Multimeric IL-15 soluble fusion molecules and methods of making and using same

ABSTRACT

The invention provides soluble fusion protein complexes having at least two soluble fusion proteins. The first fusion protein is a biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to an interleukin-15 (IL-15) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof. The second fusion protein is a second biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to a soluble interleukin-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof. In the complexes of the invention, one or both of the first and second fusion proteins further includes an immunoglobulin Fc domain or a functional fragment thereof; and the first fusion protein binds to the soluble IL-15Rα domain of the second fusion protein to form a soluble fusion protein complex. The invention further provides methods for making and using the complexes of the invention.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/384,817, filed Sep. 21, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/527,911, filed Aug. 26, 2011 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Research supporting this application was carried out by the United States of America as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Oct. 21, 2011, is named 84648340.txt and is 69,187 bytes in size.

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of creating multimeric targeting proteins for the purposes of either augmenting effective affinity through the formation of multivalent molecules or broadening the spectrum of recognition through the formation of multiple specific molecules. A variety of protein interaction domains have been employed to generate recombinant proteins with dimeric and multimeric binding sites. Initially, fusions of the targeting domains to leucine zipper domains were commonly used for dimerization. In this approach, hydrophobic interaction of leucine zipper domains is mediated by regularly spaced leucines in parallel α-helices, while the dimerization partner is determined by other amino acids immediately outside of the hydrophobic core, mainly charged residues, forming salt bridges (1-3). This interaction is exemplified by the Fos and Jun family of proteins, which preferentially form heterodimers without significant interference of the target domain specificity. This approach provides a versatile scaffold to create multimeric complexes (4,5). However, there are limitations that significantly affect the usefulness of this approach for therapeutic protein development. Most prominently, Fos and Jun are intracellular proteins that accumulate almost exclusively within the nucleus. Thus, soluble and secreted Fos and Jun fusions are usually produced using the baculovirus-infected or stably transformed insect cell system, a relatively low yielding and not easily scalable manufacturing process (6,7). In an attempt to create bispecific molecules, antibody domains linked to Fos-Jun were produced in bacterial or mammalian cells, but the main limitation was subunit homodimerization (8,9) which complicated the purification process and reduced the overall yield (8,9). Furthermore, the difference in patterns of glycosylation of proteins produced by insect or bacterial cells raises concerns of potential immunogenicity of the products when used in therapeutic applications.

In addition to leucine zipper motifis, immunoglobulin (IgG) constant domains, helix-turn-helix self dimerizing peptides, tri- and tetrameric subdomains of collagen and p53 have been used as scaffolds by which to create multivalent molecules (8, 10-13). Aside from the IgG fragments, these interaction domains primarily serve as molecular scaffolds and lack other functional activities per se. Moreover, fusion proteins containing these domains often require further optimization to promote stable multimer formation and specialized production cell lines and purification methods that are tedious or impose regulatory hurdles for therapeutic development (10,12). Many of these scaffolds are derivatives of either nonhuman protein domains or non-native components of plasma that may exhibit poor pharmacokinetic properties and pose the risk of immunogenic responses that could limit their therapeutic potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides soluble fusion protein complexes having at least two soluble fusion proteins. In certain embodiments, the first fusion protein includes a first biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to interleukin-15 (IL-15) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof. The second fusion protein includes a second biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to soluble interleukin-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof. In the complexes, either one or both of the first and second fusion proteins further include an immunoglobulin Fc domain or a functional fragment thereof. In the complex, the IL-15 domain of the first fusion protein binds to the soluble IL-15Rα domain of the second fusion protein to form a soluble fusion protein complex.

In certain embodiments, in the soluble fusion protein complexes, one of the first and second biologically active polypeptides includes a first soluble T-cell receptor (TCR) or functional fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complex including a first soluble TCR includes a second soluble TCR as the biologically active polypeptide, thereby creating a multivalent TCR fusion protein complex with increased binding activity. In certain embodiments, the TCRs in the complex includes at least two different TCRs. In certain embodiments, all of the TCRs are the same. In certain embodiments when at least two different TCRs are present, the TCRs bind to separate target molecules. In certain embodiments when at least two different TCRs are present, the TCRs bind to distinct epitopes on the same target molecule. In certain embodiments, the TCRs are specific for recognition of a particular antigen.

In the soluble fusion complex of the invention, in certain embodiments, the TCRs are independently selected from a heterodimer comprising α and β chain TCR and a single chain TCR polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the single chain TCR includes a TCR V-α chain covalently linked to a TCR V-β chain by a peptide linker sequence. In certain embodiments, the single chain TCR further includes a soluble TCR Cβ chain fragment covalently linked to a TCR V-β chain. In certain embodiments, the single chain TCR further includes a soluble TCR Cα chain fragment covalently linked to a TCR V-α chain. In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complex, the first biologically active polypeptide includes a TCR α polypeptide or functional fragment thereof and the second biologically active polypeptide includes a TCR β polypeptide or functional fragment thereof.

In certain embodiments, in soluble fusion protein complex one or both of the first and second biologically active polypeptide includes an antibody or functional fragment thereof. In certain embodiments, the antibodies in the complex includes at least two different antibodies. In certain embodiments, all of the antibodies are the same. In certain embodiments when at least two different antibodies are present, the antibodies bind to separate target molecules. In certain embodiments when at least two different antibodies are present, the antibodies bind to distinct epitopes on the same target molecule. In certain embodiments, the antibodies are specific for recognition of a particular antigen.

In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complex, the antibody is a single-chain antibody or single-chain Fv. In certain embodiments, the single-chain antibody comprises an immunoglobulin light chain variable domain covalently linked to immunoglobulin heavy chain variable domain by polypeptide linker sequence. In certain embodiments, the first biologically active polypeptide comprises an antibody heavy chain polypeptide or functional fragment thereof and the second biologically active polypeptide comprises an antibody light chain polypeptide or functional fragment thereof.

In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention, the IL-15 polypeptide is an IL-15 variant having a different amino acid sequence than native IL-15 polypeptide. The human IL-15 polypeptide is referred to herein as huIL-15, hIL-15, huIL15, hIL15, IL-15 wild type (wt) and the like and variants thereof are referred to using the native amino acid, its position in the mature sequence and the variant amino acid. For example, huIL15N72D refers to human IL-15 comprising a substitution of N to D at position 72. In certain embodiments, the IL-15 variant functions as an IL-15 agonist as demonstrated, e.g., by increased binding activity for the IL-15RβγC receptors compared to the native IL-15 polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the IL-15 variant functions as an IL-15 antagonist as demonstrated by e.g., decreased binding activity for the IL-15RβγC receptors compared to the native IL-15 polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the IL-15 variant has increased binding affinity or a decreased binding activity for the IL-15RβγC receptors compared to the native IL-15 polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the sequence of the IL-15 variant has at least one (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more) amino acid change compared to the native IL-15 sequence. The amino acid change can include one or more of an amino acid substitution or deletion in the domain of IL-15 that interacts with IL-15Rβ and/or IL-15RγC. In certain embodiments, the amino acid change is one or more amino acid substitutions or deletions at position 8, 61, 65, 72, 92, 101, 108, or 111 of the mature human IL-15 sequence (SEQ ID NO:1). For example, the amino acid change is the substitution of D to N or A at position 8, D to A at position 61, N to A at position 65, N to R at position 72 or Q to A at position 108 of the mature human IL-15 sequence, or any combination of these substitutions. In certain embodiments, the amino acid change is the substitution of N to D at position 72 of the mature human IL-15 sequence.

In certain embodiments of the invention, in the soluble fusion protein complex, the Fc domain or functional fragment thereof includes an Fc domain selected from the group consisting of IgG Fc domain, human IgG1 Fc domain, human IgG2 Fc domain, human IgG3 Fc domain, human IgG4 Fc domain, IgA Fc domain, IgD Fc domain, IgE Fc domain, and IgM Fc domain; or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the Fc domain includes an amino acid change that results in an Fc domain with altered complement or Fc receptor binding properties. Amino acid changes to produce an Fc domain with altered complement or Fc receptor binding properties are known in the art. For example, a substitution of leucine residues at positions 234 and 235 of the IgG1 C_(H)2 (numbering based on antibody consensus sequence) (i.e. . . . P E L L G G . . . (SEQ ID NO: 1)) with alanine residues (i.e. . . . P E A A G G . . . (SEQ ID NO: 2)) results in a loss of Fc gamma receptor binding whereas the substitution of the lysine residue at position 322 of the IgG1 C_(H)2 (numbering based on antibody consensus sequence) (i.e. . . . K C K S L . . . (SEQ ID NO: 3)) with an alanine residue (i.e. . . . K C A S L . . . (SEQ ID NO: 4)) results in a loss of complement activation. In certain embodiments, such mutations can be combined.

In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complex, the first biologically active polypeptide is covalently linked to IL-15 polypeptide (or functional fragment thereof) by a polypeptide linker sequence. In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complex, the second biologically active polypeptide is covalently linked to IL-15Rα polypeptide (or functional fragment thereof) by polypeptide linker sequence. In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complex, the IL-15Rα polypeptide (or functional fragment thereof) is covalently linked to the Fc domain (or functional fragment thereof) by polypeptide linker sequence. Each polypeptide linker sequence can be selected independently. In certain embodiments the polypeptide linker sequences are the same. In certain embodiments, they are different.

In certain embodiments, the antigen for the TCR domain includes a peptide antigen presented in an MHC or HLA molecule. In certain embodiments, the peptide antigen is derived from (i.e., includes at least a partial sequence of) a tumor associated polypeptide or virus encoded polypeptide. In certain embodiments, the antigen for the antibody domain comprises a cell surface receptor or ligand.

In certain embodiments, the antigen for the antibody domain is one or more of a CD antigen, cytokine or chemokine receptor or ligand, growth factor receptor or ligand, cell adhesion molecule, MHC/MHC-like molecules, Fc receptor, Toll-like receptor, NK receptor, TCR, BCR, positive/negative co-stimulatory receptor or ligand, death receptor or ligand, tumor associated antigen, or virus encoded antigen.

In certain embodiments of the soluble fusion protein complex, the IL-15Rα polypeptide includes the extracellular domain of the IL-15 receptor alpha capable for binding IL-15 polypeptide. The soluble human IL-15Rα polypeptide is referred to herein as hIL-15Rα, huIL-15Rα, hIL-15Rα, huIL-15Rα, and the like. In certain embodiments, the IL-15Rα polypeptide includes either the IL-15Rα sushi (Su) domain or the IL-15RαΔE3 domain.

In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention are mutimerized, e.g., dimerized, trimerized, or otherwise multimerized (e.g., 4 complexes, 5 complexes, etc.) In certain embodiments, the multimers are homomultimers. In certain embodiments, the multimers are heteromultimers. In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complexes are joined by covalent bonds, e.g., disulfide bonds, chemical cross-linking agents. In certain embodiments, the disulfide bond covalently links the Fc domain of the second polypeptide of the first soluble fusion protein complex to the Fc domain of the second polypeptide of the second soluble fusion protein complex.

In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention include an IL-15 polypeptide, IL-15 variant or a functional fragment thereof and a soluble IL-15Rα polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof, wherein one or both of the IL-15 and IL-15Rα polypeptides further include an immunoglobulin Fc domain or a functional fragment thereof.

In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention include at least one of the soluble fusion proteins comprise a detectable label. Detectable labels include, but are not limited to, biotin, streptavidin, an enzyme or catalytically active fragment thereof, a radionuclide, a nanoparticle, a paramagnetic metal ion, or a fluorescent, phosphorescent, or chemiluminescent molecule; or any combination thereof.

The invention provides nucleic acid sequences encoding any of the fusion proteins of the invention. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence further includes one or more translational and/or transcriptional control sequences, e.g., a promoter, translation initiation signal, and leader sequence; operably linked to the sequence encoding the fusion protein. In certain embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence is in a vector for replication, expression, or both.

The invention provides method for making the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention. The method includes the steps of:

a) introducing into a first host cell a DNA vector with appropriate control sequences encoding the first fusion protein,

b) culturing the first host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the first fusion protein in the cell or the media;

c) purifying the first fusion protein from the host cells or media,

d) introducing into a second host cell a DNA vector with appropriate control sequences encoding the second fusion protein,

e) culturing the second host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the second fusion protein in the cell or the media; and

f) purifying the second fusion protein from the host cells or media, and

g) mixing the first and second fusion proteins under conditions sufficient to allow binding between IL-15 domain of a first fusion protein and the soluble IL-15Rα domain of a second fusion protein to form the soluble fusion protein complex.

In certain embodiments, the method further includes mixing the first and second fusion protein under conditions sufficient to allow formation of a disulfide bond between the polypeptides expressed from the expression vectors.

The invention provides methods for making soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention, the methods including the steps of:

a) introducing into a host cell a DNA vector with appropriate control sequences encoding the first fusion protein and a DNA vector with appropriate control sequences encoding the second fusion protein,

b) culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the fusion proteins in the cell or the media and allow association between IL-15 domain of a first fusion protein and the soluble IL-15Rα domain of a second fusion protein to form the soluble fusion protein complex;

c) purifying the soluble fusion protein complex from the host cells or media.

In certain embodiments, the method further includes mixing the first and second fusion protein under conditions sufficient to allow formation of a disulfide bond between the polypeptides expressed from the expression vectors.

The invention provides methods for making soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention, the methods including the steps of:

a) introducing into a host cell a DNA vector with appropriate control sequences encoding the first and second fusion proteins,

b) culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the fusion proteins in the cell or the media and allow association between IL-15 domain of a first fusion protein and the soluble IL-15Rα domain of a second fusion protein to form the soluble fusion protein complex, and to allow formation of a disulfide bond between the polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid of claim 46;

c) purifying the soluble fusion protein complex from the host cells or media.

In certain embodiments, the method further includes mixing the first and second fusion protein under conditions sufficient to allow formation of a disulfide bond between the polypeptides expressed from the expression vectors.

The invention provides methods for killing a target cell, the method including the steps of:

a) contacting a plurality of cells with a soluble fusion protein complex of the invention, wherein the plurality of cells further include immune cells bearing the IL-15R chains recognized by the IL-15 domain, or immune cells bearing Fc receptor chains recognized by the Fc domain, and the target cells bearing an antigen recognized by at least one of the biologically active polypeptides,

b) forming a specific binding complex (bridge) between the antigen on the target cells and the IL-15R or Fc receptor chains on the immune cells sufficient to bind and activate the immune cells; and

c) killing the target cells by the bound activated immune cells.

In certain embodiments of the killing methods, the target cells are tumor cells or virally infected cells.

In certain embodiments of the killing methods, the biologically active polypeptide includes a TCR.

In certain embodiments of the killing methods, the antigen on the target cells includes a tumor or virally encoded peptide antigen presented in an MHC or HLA molecule and recognized by the TCR. The immune cells are, for example, T-cells, LAK cells, NK cells, macrophages, monocytes or granulocytes.

The invention provides methods for preventing or treating disease in a patient in which the diseased cells express a disease associated antigen, the method including the steps of:

a) administering to the patient a soluble fusion protein complex of the invention having a biologically active polypeptide recognizing a disease-associated antigen;

b) forming a specific binding complex (bridge) between antigen-expressing diseased cells and IL-15R or Fc receptor expressing immune cells sufficient to localize the immune cells; and

c) damaging or killing the disease cells sufficient to prevent or treat the disease in the patient.

The invention provides method for preventing or treating disease in a patient in which the diseased cells express a disease associated antigen, the method including the steps of:

a) mixing immune cells bearing IL-15R chains or Fc receptor chains with a soluble fusion protein complex of the invention including a biologically active polypeptide recognizing a disease-associated antigen,

b) administering to the patient the immune cell-fusion protein complex mixture;

c) forming a specific binding complex (bridge) between antigen-expressing diseased cells and IL-15R or Fc receptor expressing immune cells sufficient to localize the immune cells; and

d) damaging or killing the disease cells sufficient to prevent or treat the disease in the patient.

In certain embodiments of the method for preventing or treating disease in a patient in which the diseased cells express a disease associated antigen, the disease is cancer or viral infection. In certain embodiments, the disease associated antigen is a peptide/MHC complex.

The invention provides methods of stimulating immune responses in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective amount of the soluble fusion protein complex of the invention.

The invention provides methods of suppressing immune responses in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective amount of the soluble fusion protein complex of any one of the invention.

The invention provides methods for detecting cells or tissue having an antigen presented on the cells or tissue, the method including the steps of:

a) contacting the cells or tissue with at least one soluble fusion protein complex of the invention including a detectable label under conditions that form a specific binding complex between the antigen and the biologically active polypeptide of the soluble fusion protein complex,

b) washing the cells or tissue under conditions appropriate to remove any soluble fusion protein complex not bound to the antigen; and

c) detecting the specific binding complex as being indicative of cells or tissue comprising the antigen.

In certain embodiments of the detection methods, the biologically active polypeptide comprises a TCR and the antigen comprises a peptide antigen presented in an MHC or HLA molecule that is recognized by the TCR. The detection methods provided herein are highly sensitive. For example, in the methods, the number of copies of the antigen present is 1000 or fewer copies per cell. The detection methods provided herein can be practiced in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo.

The invention provides methods of increasing the per-molecule binding activity of a soluble fusion protein complex of the invention by forming a dimer of a first soluble fusion protein complex and a second soluble fusion protein complex in which the binding site of the first biologically active polypeptide and the second biologically active peptide of each fusion protein complex are the same or are different. In certain embodiments, the binding is increased synergistically. For example, the per-molecule binding activity is increased by 10% or more, 20% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more.

The invention also provides method of increasing the per-molecule IL-15 activity of a soluble fusion protein complex of the invention by forming a dimer of a first soluble fusion protein complex and a second soluble fusion protein complex.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for making an interleukin-15 (IL-15):interleukin-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) fusion protein complex, the method involving introducing into a host cell (e.g., a mammalian cell) a first DNA vector encoding IL-15 (or IL-15 variant) and a second DNA vector encoding an IL-15Rα fusion protein; culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the IL-15 (or IL-15 variant) and the IL-15Rα fusion protein; and purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex from the host cell or media.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making an IL-15:IL-15Rα complex containing an IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein, the method involving introducing into a host cell a first DNA encoding IL-15 (or IL-15 variant) and a second DNA encoding an IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein; culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the IL-15 (or IL-15 variant) and the IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein; and purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα/Fc complex from the host cell or media.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making an IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex containing an IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein, the method involving co-expressing IL-15 (or IL-15 variant) and an IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein in a host cell; culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the IL-15 (or IL-15 variant) and the IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein; and purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein complex from the host cell or media.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of making an IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex involving co-expressing IL-15N72D and an IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein in a host cell; culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the IL-15N72D and the IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein; and purifying the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex from the host cell or media where both IL-15 binding sites of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex are fully occupied.

In another aspect, the invention provides a cell containing a first polynucleotide encoding IL-15 or an IL-15 variant and a second polynucleotide encoding an IL-15 receptor fusion protein. In one embodiment, the cell comprises a first expression vector encoding IL-15N72D and a second expression vector encoding an IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein.

In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex containing a dimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc and two IL-15N72D molecules. In one embodiment, the complex is at least 90-95% or more purified fully occupied; has an isoelectric point between 5.6 to 6.5; has a molecular weight of about 114 kDa; and/or is glycosylated on either or both the IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc polypeptides.

In another aspect, the invention provides an isolated fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex produced according to any method of expression and purification delineated herein.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of modulating (e.g., increasing or decreasing) an immune response in a subject, the method involving administering to the subject a fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of enhancing an immune response in a subject having neoplasia, the method involving administering to the subject the fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex.

In various embodiments of the above aspects or any other aspect of the invention delineated herein, the IL-15Rα fusion protein comprises soluble IL-15Rα covalently linked to a biologically active polypeptide (e.g., the heavy chain constant domain of IgG, an Fc domain of the heavy chain constant domain of IgG). In other embodiments of the invention of the above aspects, IL-15 comprises IL-15 covalently linked to a second biologically active polypeptide. In other embodiments, purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex from the host cell or media involves capturing the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex on an affinity reagent that specifically binds the IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex. In other embodiments, the IL-15Rα fusion protein contains an IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein and the affinity reagent specifically binds the Fc domain. In other embodiments, the affinity reagent is Protein A or Protein G. In other embodiments, the affinity reagent is an antibody. In other embodiments, purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex from the host cell or media comprises ion exchange chromatography. In other embodiments, purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex from the host cell or media comprises size exclusion chromatography. In other embodiments, the IL-15Rα comprises IL-15RαSushi (IL-15RαSu). In other embodiments, the IL-15 is a variant IL-15 (e.g., IL-15N72D). In other embodiments, the IL-15 binding sites of the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex are fully occupied. In other embodiments, both IL-15 binding sites of the IL-15:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex are fully occupied. In other embodiments, the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex is purified based on the complex charge or size properties. In other embodiments, the fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex is purified by anion exchange chromatography based on the complex charge properties. In other embodiments, the fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex is purified using a quaternary amine-based resin with binding conditions employing low ionic strength neutral pH buffers and elution conditions employing buffers of increasing ionic strength.

The invention also includes kits including one or more of the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention, one or more specific reagents (e.g., a nucleotide encoding one or more soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention) for making the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention, and/or specific materials for using one or more soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention. Materials in kits are provided in appropriate packaging, typically with instructions for use.

Other embodiments will be clear from the disclosure infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows fusion protein referred to as the T2 molecule (T2M) consists of a multichain polypeptide.

FIG. 2 shows the vector (pMC.c264scTCR-Su/IgG1.PUR) containing the correct human IL15RαSushi gene insert.

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B shows the sequence of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 34).

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C shows the protein sequence of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 35).

FIG. 5 shows the vector designated as c264scTCR/Sushi/hIgG1-pMSGVc or pMSGVc264SuIg.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B shows the sequence of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 36).

FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C shows the protein sequence of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 peptide (SEQ ID NO: 37).

FIG. 8 shows the vector designated as c149scTCR/IL15N72D-pMSGVn or pMSGV-c149IL15N72D.

FIG. 9 shows the sequence of the c149scTCR/huIL15N72D nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 38).

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B shows the protein sequence of the c149scTCR/huIL15N72D peptide (SEQ ID NO: 39).

FIG. 11 shows an SDS-PAGE analysis of purification fractions of the T2, c264scTCR/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIgG1ΔCH1 fusion proteins under reducing and non-reducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the T2 molecule bands migrate at molecular weights consisted with the c264scTCR/huIL15 and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 polypeptides. Under non-reducing denaturing conditions, the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 band migrates at a molecular weight consistent with a dimeric disulfide-linked c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 complex and a c264scTCR/huIL15N72D polypeptide.

FIG. 12 shows results from size exclusion gel filtration chromatography demonstrating that the native T2 protein eluted at the expected molecular weight of a four-chain (2×c264scTCR/IL15N72D, 2×c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1) molecule.

FIG. 13 shows results from an in vitro binding assay in which equimolar amounts of purified T2 protein, composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, or purified c264scTCR/huIgG1 fusion protein were captured on wells coated with anti-human IgG1 antibody. Following binding, proteins were detected using anti-human IgG1 antibody under standard ELISA conditions.

FIG. 14 shows results from an in vitro binding assay in which equimolar amounts of T2 or c264scTCR/huIgG1 proteins were captured on anti-human IgG1 Ab coated wells and detected with an anti-human TCR Cβ antibody (W4F).

FIG. 15 shows results from an in vitro binding assay in which the peptide/MHC binding activity of the TCR domains of the T2 molecule was assessed. Equimolar amounts of T2 (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) or c264scTCR/huIgG1 proteins were captured on anti-human IgG1 Ab coated wells and detected with p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 streptavidin-HRP tetramers.

FIG. 16 shows results from an in vitro assay to demonstrate the activity of the IL-15 domain of the T2 molecule. Microtiter wells were coated with anti-human IL-15 antibody and equivalent molar amounts of purified T2 protein, composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, or purified c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion protein were applied to the wells. Following binding and washing steps, the bound proteins were detected with anti-human IL-15 antibody under standard ELISA conditions.

FIG. 17 shows the results from a proliferation assay to further characterize the functional activity of the IL-15 domain of the T2 molecules using the cytokine-dependent 32Dβ cell line. To measure cell proliferation, 32Dβ cells (2×10⁴ cells/well) were incubated with increasing concentrations of T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) or c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion protein for 48 h at 37° C. Cell proliferation reagent WST-1 (Roche® Applied Science) was added during the last 4 h of cell growth according to the manufacturer's procedures. Conversion of WST-1 to the colored formazan dye by metabolically active cells was determined through absorbance measurements at 440 nm.

FIG. 18A-B show the results from an in vivo primate model to determine the ability of the T2 protein to promote proliferation of IL-15 responsive immune cells. Blood was collected five days after injection with T2 protein and was stained for CD8 memory T cells markers (CD8 and CD95) (A) and NK cell markers (CD56 and CD16) (B) and compared to blood taken prior to treatment.

FIGS. 19A-B show cell binding assays characterizing the binding activity of the IgG1 Fc domain of the T2 molecule. A. Flow cytometry analysis showing results from an assay in which Fc-gamma receptor bearing U937 cells were incubated with 33 nM of T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains), c264scTCR/huIgG1 or A2AL9scTCR/IgG1 (negative control) for 20 min. Cells were washed once and incubated with PE-conjugated p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 tetramer for 20 min. The binding to Fc gamma receptors on U937 cell surface was analyzed with flow cytometry. B. Flow cytometry analysis showing results from a similar U937 binding studies using a range of protein concentrations as indicated was carried out and the mean fluorescent intensity for the stained cells was plotted.

FIG. 20 shows results from an assay to assess the biological activity of the Fc domains of the T2 molecules to mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity. T2 protein, c264scTCR/huIgG1 or A2AL9scTCR/IgG1 (negative control) were added to a 96-well plate at a concentration of 0.137 nM to 100 nM. HLA-A2-positive T2 target cells were pulsed with 10 μM of p53 aa264-272 peptide and labeled with 50 μg/ml of Calcein-AM. The fusion proteins were mixed with 1×10⁴ of the target cell per well and 1×10⁶/well of fresh human PBMC were added. The plate was incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator for 2 hrs and 100 μl of the conditional medium were collected and analyzed quantitatively for Calcein released from lysed cells.

FIGS. 21A and B show results from an assay in which HLA-A2-positive T2 cells were pulsed with various amounts of p53 aa264-272 peptide to assess the binding activity of T2 protein to peptide/MHC targets on cell surface. The peptide-loaded cells were incubated with T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains), c264scTCR/huIgG1 or A2AL9scTCR/IgG1 (negative control), each at 83 nM. The cells were incubated with biotinylated anti-TCR Ab (BF1) and streptavidin-PE. The cells were then analyzed for antibody staining by flow cytometry for A and the mean fluorescence staining intensity of the cells loaded different concentrations of peptide are plotted for B.

FIG. 22 shows the results from an ELISA in which T2 molecules of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 or c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 (in cell culture supernatant) were captured on microtiter plates coated with the anti-human TCR antibody BF1, and the bound T2 molecules were detected using the anti-human TCR antibody W4F-BN.

FIG. 23 shows the results from an ELISA in which T2 molecules of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 or c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 (in cell culture supernatant) were captured on microtiter plates coated with the goat anti-human IgG antibody, and bound T2 molecules were detected using the anti-human IL-15 antibody.

FIG. 24 shows the results from an ELISA in which T2 molecules of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 (in cell culture supernatant) were captured on microtiter plates were coated with either goat anti-human IgG antibody or anti-human TCR antibody BF1. The BF1-captured T2 molecules were detected with either anti-human TCR antibody W4F-BN or anti-human IL-15 antibody. The goat anti-human IgG Ab-captured T2 molecules were detected with either the p53 (aa 149-157) peptide/HLA-A2 streptavidin-HRP tetramers or the p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 streptavidin-HRP tetramers.

FIG. 25 shows results from a flow cytometry assay in which T2 molecules comprising two different TCR domains, i.e. c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c149scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, were characterized. The Fc and TCR activity of these molecules were assessed following binding to Fc-gamma receptor bearing U937 cells and detection with p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 tetramers followed by flow cytometry.

FIGS. 26A and B show the results from pharmacokinetic assay in which A. mice or B. monkeys were injected with purified T2 protein composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains. Samples were collected at the indicated times. A. ELISA format assays in which goat anti-human IgG Ab was used to coat the wells, and anti-human TCR Ab (W4F-BN) was used for detection; or goat anti-human IgG Ab was used to coat the plates, and anti-human IL-15 Ab was used for detection as indicated to quantify the amount of the T2 protein in the blood at the times indicated. B. Anti-human TCR Ab (βF-1) was used to coat the wells, and HRP conjugated goat anti-human IgG Ab was used for detection; or anti-human IL-15 Ab was used to coat the plates, and HRP conjugated goat anti-human IgG Ab was used for detection; or anti-human IL-15 Ab was used to coat the plates and anti-human TCR Ab (W4F-BN) was used for detection.

FIG. 27 shows results from a primary tumor growth model using a human p53+ HLA-A2+ A375 melanoma cell line in nude mice. Tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously with 32 μg/dose (1.6 mg/kg) T2 protein composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, 32 μg/dose (1.6 mg/kg) c264scTCR/huIL2, or 60 μg/dose (3 mg/kg) 264scTCR/huIgG1. Tumor growth was measured and data are shown in the figure.

FIG. 28 shows the results from IL-15 activity assays of T2 molecules with various point mutations in the IL-15 domain as measured by proliferation of 32Dβ cells.

FIG. 29 shows results from an antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity assay using T2 molecules with various point mutations in the IL-15 and IgG Fc domains as measured by PBMC-dependent lysis of peptide-loaded T2 target cells.

FIG. 30 shows results from an assay to detect the effects of the IL-15 and Fc mutations on the ability of the T2 molecules to stimulate human NK and T cell responses. Human PBMCs at 1.8 to 5×10⁵ cells/mL were incubated for 4 days at 37° C. in media containing 1 nM T2 molecules comprising the mutations indicated or with 10 ng/mL recombinant human IL-2 or IL-15 as a control. NK cell cytotoxicity was then assessed using NK-sensitive K-562 cells as target cells following labeling with 50 ug/ml of Calcein-AM.

FIG. 31 shows results from NK cell proliferation assay in which human PBMCs were incubated with T2 molecules comprising various point mutations in the IL-15 and IgG Fc domains or with recombinant human IL-2 or IL-15 as a control. T2 molecules comprising the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains or those with the Fc domain LALA and KA variants resulted in an increase in proliferation of CD56+ NK cells whereas T2 molecules comprising IL-15 N65D or D8N substitutions did not provide as much NK cell proliferative activity.

FIGS. 32 A and B show results from flow cytometry assays to test the antigen specific binding of T2 molecules including IL-15 and Fc mutations to T2 cells with (T2.265) and without loaded p53 peptide (T2). A shows flow cytometry histograms and B shows signal to noise ratio of peptide-specific to non-specific cell staining.

FIG. 33A, FIG. 33B, and FIG 33C show results from assays to detect the activity of various T2 molecules and IL-15 molecules to support 32Dβ cell growth (FIG. 33A), to stimulate expansion of various T cell populations (FIG. 33B), and to stimulate NK cell activity (FIG. 33C).

FIGS. 34A and 35B show results from an in vivo assay to determine the immunostimulatory activity of various T2 molecules in mice as indicated by changes in the percentage of CD8+ T-cells and NK cells, respectively, in blood and spleen cells as detected using flow cytometry.

FIGS. 35A and B show results from an ELISA using a multispecific T2 molecule comprising 1) the huIL15N72D domain fused to a scTCR specific to the peptide from amino acids 257-264 of ovalbumin and 2) a single chain CD8α/β domain linked to the huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 fusion. Binding activity of OT1-CD8-T2M was compared to that of the OT1scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion by ELISA. Equal molar amounts of each protein was captured on a well coated with anti-TCR Cβ mAb (H57) and probed with OVA aa257-264/H-2 Kb tetramers or mAbs to IL15, CD8α, CD8β or TCR Vα2. Assays were also preformed with wells coated with anti-human Ig and probed with anti-TCR Vα2.

FIG. 36. A. shows a schematic diagram of the c264scTCR/hIL-15:c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex (c264scTCR dimer). The model of the dimeric hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu domains is based on the published crystal structure of the human IL-15:IL-15Rα complex (33) (PDB 2Z3Q) B. shows SEC analysis of c264scTCR fusion proteins. Panels show size analysis of c264scTCR/hIL-15 (top), c264scTCR/hIL-5RαSu/birA (middle) and c264scTCR/hIL-15:c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex (c264scTCR dimer) (bottom) with dashed lines indicating relative protein peaks.

FIG. 37 shows characterization of the binding activity of the c264scTCR dimer comprising the c264scTCR/hIL-15:c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex and c264scTCR/c149scTCR heterodimer comprising the c149scTCR/hIL-15:c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex. A. T2 cells were pulsed with 0-62.5 nM of p53 (aa264-272) peptide. The cells were stained with equivalent amounts (80 nM) of PE-conjugated multimers of the c264scTCR dimer or c264scTCR/birA. B. The relative increase in cell staining comparing c264scTCR dimer with c264scTCR/birA reagents was determined at different peptide concentrations. Fold increase=(Geo mean of T2 cells stained by c264scTCR dimer)/(Geo Mean of T2 cells stained by c264scTCR/birA). C. The p53 peptide/HLA-A*0201 binding activity of c264scTCR/c149scTCR heterodimer was determined by ELISA. Anti-hIL-15 monoclonal antibody (R&D System) was used as a capturing antibody. A2/p53.264-272.HRP or A2/p53.149-157.HRP tetramers were used as the probes. The data represent the means±SD of triplicate determinations.

FIG. 38 shows the characterization of the binding activity of the OT1scTCR dimer comprising the OT1scTCR/hIL-15:OT1scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex. EL4 cells were loaded with OVA (aa257-264) peptide and stained with OT1scTCR/birA-SA-PE (top) and OT1scTCR dimer-SA-PE (bottom) at 200 nM.

FIG. 39 shows OTscTCR/scCD8 heterodimer comprising the OT1scTCR/hIL-15:scCD8/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex exhibits enhanced pMHCI binding activity. A. Murine CD8 expression of OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer was determined by ELISA. Anti-mTCR H57-597 mAb was used as capturing antibody. The biotinylated anti-murine CD8α or CD8β mAb was used as a probe followed by SA-HRP. The data represent the means±SD of triplicate determinations. B. EL4 cells were loaded with OVA (aa257-264) peptide at the indicated concentration and stained with OT1scTCR dimer-SA-PE (top) and OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer-SA-PE (bottom) at 200 nM.

FIG. 40. Fusion proteins containing TCR α/β heterodimers comprising the TCRα/hIL-15:TCRβ/hIL-15RαSu/birA complex retain pMHCI binding activity. A. Binding activity of OT1scTCR/birA and OT1 TCRα/β heterodimer to OVA (aa257-264)/H-2 Kb complex was determined by ELISA. Anti-mTCR H57-597 mAb was used as capturing antibody. Kb/OVA.257-264.HRP tetramer was used as a probe. B. Binding activity of 264scTCR/birA and 264 TCRα/β heterodimer to p53 (aa264-272)/HLA-A*0201 complex was determined by ELISA. Anti-TCR mAb was used as capturing antibody. A2/p53.264-272.HRP tetramer was used as a probe. The data represent the means±SD of triplicate determinations.

FIG. 41 shows IL-15 binding and functional activity of fusion proteins. A. 32Dβ cells were incubated with 320 nM of the c264scTCR dimers comprising IL-15 wild type or IL-15N72D or IL-15D8N mutein domains. The binding of the fusion proteins was in turn detected with anti-human TCR Cβ Ab. B. The ability of the c264scTCR dimers comprising IL-15 wild type or mutein domains to support proliferation of 32Dβ cells was determined as described in the Examples. The data represent the means±range of duplicate determinations.

FIG. 42 shows OVA (aa257-264)/H-2K^(b) binding activity of OT1scTCR/hIL-15D8N, OT1scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA and OT1scTCR dimer were determined by ELISA. Anti-mTCR H57-597 mAb was used as capturing antibody. Kb/OVA.257-264.HRP tetramer was used as a probe. The data represent the means±SD of triplicate determinations.

FIG. 43 shows OT1scTCR fusion protein binding curves to OVA (aa257-264)/H-2K^(b) and control VSV/H-2K^(b) complexes determined by SPR.

FIGS. 44A and B shows results from a primary tumor growth model using murine B16 tumor cell line in immunocompetent mice. Tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously with rhIL-15, T2M, T2MΔCH1 and T2MΔTCRΔCH1 proteins or PBS (control). Tumor growth was measured and data are shown in A. Post treatment changes in animal body weight are shown in B.

FIGS. 45A and B shows results from a primary tumor growth model using murine EG7 tumor cell line in immunocompetent mice. Tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously with rhIL-15, T2M and T2MΔTCRΔCH1 proteins or PBS (control). Tumor growth was measured and data are shown in A. Post treatment changes in animal body weight are shown in B.

FIG. 46 shows the protein sequence (SEQ ID NO: 40) of the human IgG1 CH2-CH3 domain or Fc domain covalently and/or genetically fused with other protein domains to generate the fusion protein complexes.

FIG. 47 shows results of an assay to determine the antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity mediated by T2M and scTCR-huIgG1 proteins against cells expressing peptide MHC targets. Various amounts of fusion protein (T2M, T2M2 or c264scTCR-Ig) were mixed with fresh human PBMCs and p53 peptide-pulsed HLA-A2-positive T2 cells (Calcein labeled) (E:T ratio, 40:1). After 2 hr incubation, the culture medium was collected and analyzed quantitatively for Calcein released from lysed cells.

FIG. 48 shows results from in vivo assays to determine the immunostimulatory activity of various T2 molecules in mice. C57BL/6 mice were treated i.v. with equivalent molar IL-15 doses of hIL-15 (1 mg/kg), IL15N72D:IL15Rα-Fc (3.6 mg/kg), T2M (11 mg/kg), T2M2 (10 mg/kg) or an equivalent volume of PBS on study day 1. On study day 4, the mice were sacrificed and blood WBC counts and spleen weights were determined as shown in Panel A. Changes in the percentage of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) CD8⁺ and NKp46⁺ cells were assessed flow cytometry as shown in Panel B. PBMCs were also used to assess NK cell activity based on lysis of NK-sensitive Yac-1 target cells in a calcein release assay as shown in Panel C.

FIG. 49 shows results from in vivo assays to determine the dose and temporal responses of various T2 molecules on immune activity in mice. A. C57BL/6 mice were treated i.v. with equivalent molar IL-15 doses of hIL-15 (1 mg/kg), IL15N72D:IL15Rα-Fc (4 mg/kg), T2M2 (various doses) or an equivalent volume of PBS on study day 1. On study day 4, the percentage of PBMC CD8⁺ and NKp46⁺ cells were assessed by flow cytometry. B. Nude mice were treated i.v. with IL15N72D/IL15Rα-Fc (0.2 mg/kg) or T2M2 (2 mg/kg) of study day 1. On day 4 and 7 post treatment, the percentage of PBMC NKp46⁺ cells was assessed by flow cytometry.

FIG. 50 shows results from a primary tumor growth model using a human p53+HLA-A2+ A375 melanoma cell line in nude mice. A. A375 human melanoma tumor cells (1×10⁶) were injected s.c. into nude mice (5-6/group). Tumors were allowed to establish and mice were treated i.v. with equivalent molar doses of IL-15 (0.35 mg/kg), scTCR-IL15 fusions (1.6 mg/kg), scTCR-IL15/scTCR-IL15Rα complex (3.2 mg/kg), or PBS. The mice were treated three times a week for three weeks starting on study day 11. B. A375-tumor bearing nude mice were also treated i.v. with 4 mg/kg T2M as in A. C. A375 tumor bearing nude mice were i.v. with equivalent molar doses of IL-15 (0.2 mg/kg), T2M2 (2 mg/kg) or PBS. Tumors were measured every other day and tumor volumes (mean±SEM) were plotted.

FIG. 51A and FIG. 51B shows the nucleic acid sequence of c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 (Fc) construct (also referred to as T2MΔTCRΔCH1 and T2M2) (SEQ ID NO: 41).

FIG. 52 shows the protein sequence of the mature c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 (Fc) fusion protein (also referred to as T2MΔTCRΔCH1 and T2M2) (SEQ ID NO: 42).

FIG. 53 shows the nucleic acid sequence of anti-CD20 scAb/hIL-15N72D construct (SEQ ID NO: 43).

FIG. 54 shows the protein sequence of the mature anti-CD20 scAb/hIL-15N72D fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 44).

FIG. 55A and FIG. 55B shows the nucleic acid sequence of anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc construct (SEQ ID NO: 45).

FIG. 56 shows the protein sequence of the mature anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 46).

FIG. 57 show results from flow cytometry assays to test the CD20 antigen specific binding of anti-CD20 scAb T2M molecules to Daudi cells.

FIG. 58 shows results of an assay to determine the antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity mediated by anti-CD20 scAb T2Ms against CD20⁺ human tumor cells. Various amounts of fusion protein (anti-CD20 scAb T2M, c264scTCR T2M (negative control) or chimeric anti-CD20 mAb (positive control)) were mixed with fresh human PBMCs (from 2 different donors) and Daudi cells (Calcein labeled) (E:T ratio, 100:1). After an incubation period, the culture medium was collected and analyzed quantitatively for Calcein released from lysed cells.

FIG. 59 shows results of an assay to determine the antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity mediated by anti-CD20 scAb T2Ms against CD20⁺ human tumor cells. Fusion proteins (anti-CD20 scAb T2M, c264scTCR T2M (negative control) or chimeric anti-CD20 mAb (positive control)) were mixed with various rations of fresh human PBMCs (from 2 different donors) and Daudi cells (Calcein labeled). After an incubation period, the culture medium was collected and analyzed quantitatively for Calcein released from lysed cells.

FIG. 60 shows the nucleic acid sequence of anti-CD20 light chain V domain/human kappa constant domain/hIL-15N72D construct (SEQ ID NO: 47).

FIG. 61 shows the protein sequence of the mature anti-CD20 light chain V domain/human kappa constant domain/hIL-15N72D fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 48).

FIG. 62A and FIG. 62B shows the nucleic acid sequence of anti-CD20 heavy chain V domain/human IgG1 CH1 domain/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc construct (SEQ ID NO: 49).

FIG. 63 shows the protein sequence of the mature anti-CD20 heavy chain V domain/human IgG1 CH1 domain/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc fusion protein (SEQ ID NO: 50).

FIG. 64 is a schematic drawing of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex consisting IL-15N72D noncovalently associated with the dimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein.

FIG. 65 (A-D) are photographs of gel electrophoresis analysis profiles of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc preparations. (A) IEF pH 3-10 gel analysis. Lane 1, IEF Marker. Lane 2, IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex purified by rProtein A column. Lane 3, IL-15RαSu/Fc. Lane 4, IL-15 wt. (B) IEF pH3-10 gel analysis. Lane 1, IEF Marker. Lane 2, IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex purified by Q step 1 elution. Lane 3, Q1c by Q step 2 elution. Lane 4, Q2c by Q step 2 elution. (C) SDS-PAGE (reduced) analysis. Lane 1, MW maker. Lane 2, IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex purified by rProtein A column. Lane 3, IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (Q2c) by Q step 2 elution. Lane 4, IL-15RαSu/Fc (from Q flow through). (D) SDS-PAGE (reduced) analysis showing protein deglycosylation. Lane 1, MW markers. Lanes 2 and 3 show N-Glycosidase F digested and undigested IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc protein, respectively. Lane 4, IL-15 wt.

FIG. 66 is a graph of a SEC chromatogram using Superdex 200 HR 10/30 gel filtration column. The purified IL-15N72D:IL-15Rα/Fc complex was eluted as a single peak.

FIG. 67 is a graph showing a comparison of the pharmacokinetic profile of IL-15 wt and IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex following intravenous administration in CD-1 mice. The anti-IL-15 Ab ELISA measures the concentration of IL-15 wt (▪). The anti-IL-15 Ab ELISA measures the concentration of the intact IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc molecule (A), whereas the anti-human IgG Fc Ab ELISA measures serum concentration of the IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein (▾). The observed concentrations are represented by symbols and the model-fitted curves are represented by lines.

FIG. 68 is a graph showing a comparison of the biological activity of the in vitro assembled IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (□) with IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc. 32Dβ cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of the in vitro assembled IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (▪) or IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (□) for 72 h prior to addition of WST-1 for 4 h. Cell proliferation was quantitated by absorbance reading at 440 nm to assess formazan levels. The data points shown are means (±standard error) of triplicate samples and the lines represent sigmoidal dose-response curve fit for EC₅₀ determination. The results are representative of at least three experiments.

FIG. 69 is a set of graphs showing the effect of IL-15 wt and IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex on spleen weight and white blood cell levels. C57BL/6 mice (5 mice per group) were injected intravenously with a single dose of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion complex at 1 mg/kg IL-15 wt at 0.28 mg/kg (molar equivalent dose), or PBS as a negative control. Spleen weights (left panel) and white blood cell counts in blood (right panel) were determined 4 days after injection. The bars represent the mean±standard error (n=5). *P>0.05 compared to PBS and IL-15 wt. The results are representative of at least two experiments.

FIG. 70 is a set of graphs showing the effect of IL-15 wt and IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex on mouse lymphocytes. C57BL/6 mice (5 mice per group) were injected intravenously with a single dose of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion complex at 1 mg/kg, IL-15 wt at 0.28 mg/kg (molar equivalent dose), or PBS as a negative control. The percentage of B cells (CD19), CD4 T cells (CD4), NK cells (NKp46) and CD8 T cells (CD8) were determined in splenocytes (left panel: mean±standard error (n=5)) and PBMCs (right panel: levels in pooled blood (n=5)) 4 days after injection. *P>0.05 compared to PBS, **P>0.05 compared to IL-15 wt. The results are representative of at least two experiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

The following definitions are provided for specific terms that are used in the following written description.

As used herein, the term “comprising” is intended to mean that the compositions and methods include the recited elements, but do not exclude other elements. “Consisting essentially of”, when used to define compositions and methods, shall mean excluding other elements of any essential significance to the combination. Thus, a composition consisting essentially of the elements as defined herein would not exclude trace contaminants from the isolation and purification method and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such as phosphate buffered saline, preservatives, and the like. “Consisting of” shall mean excluding more than trace elements of other ingredients and substantial method steps for administering the compositions of this invention. Embodiments defined by each of these transition terms are within the scope of this invention.

As used herein, the term “IL-15:IL-15Rα fusion protein complex” is a complex having IL-15 non-covalently bound to the IL-15Rα domain of a soluble IL-15Rα covalently linked to a biologically active polypeptide. The IL-15 can be either IL-15 or IL-15 covalently linked to a second biologically active polypeptide.

As used herein, the term “co-expressed” is intended to mean that two distinct polypeptides are expressed simultaneously in a host cell such that the two polypeptides can interact or bind either in the host cell or in the host cell culture medium and form a complex.

As used herein, the term “affinity reagent” is intended to mean any composition that specifically binds to another molecule. Examples of affinity regents include polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, Protein A, and Protein G.

An “antibody” is any immunoglobulin, including antibodies and fragments thereof, that binds a specific epitope. The term encompasses polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, Fabs, Fvs, single-chain antibodies and single or multiple immunoglobulin variable chain or CDR domain designs as well as bispecific and multispecific antibodies.

The term “antigen” as used herein is meant any substance that causes the immune system to produce antibodies or specific cell-mediated immune responses against it. A disease associated antigen is any substance that is associated with any disease that causes the immune system to produce antibodies or a specific-cell mediated response against it.

The term “biologically active polypeptide” as used herein is meant to refer to an amino acid sequence such as a protein, polypeptide or peptide; a sugar or polysaccharide; a lipid or a glycolipid, glycoprotein, or lipoprotein that can produce the desired effects as discussed herein, including a TCR or antibody with antigen binding activity, a CD molecule including CD8 or an antibody domain including an Fc domain.

The term “cell” as used herein is meant to include any prokaryotic, eukaryotic, primary cell or immortalized cell line, any group of such cells as in, a tissue or an organ. Preferably the cells are of mammalian and particularly of human origin, and can be infected by one or more pathogens. A “host cell” in accord with the invention can be a transfected, transformed, transduced or infected cell of any origin, including prokaryotic, eukaryotic, mammalian, avian, insect, plant or bacteria cells, or it can be a cells of any origin that can be used to propagate a nucleic acid described herein.

The term “conjugate molecule” as it is used herein is meant to refer to a TCR or antibody molecule and an effector molecule usually a chemical or synthesized molecule covalently linked (i.e. fused) by chemical or other suitable method. If desired, the conjugate molecule can be fused at one or several sites through a peptide linker sequence or a carrier molecule. Alternatively, the peptide linker or carrier may be used to assist in construction of the conjugate molecule. Specifically preferred conjugate molecules are conjugate toxins or detectable labels.

The term “effector molecule” as used herein is meant to refer to an amino acid sequence such as a protein, polypeptide or peptide; a sugar or polysaccharide; a lipid or a glycolipid, glycoprotein, lipoprotein or chemical agent that can produce the desired effects as discussed herein, including an IL-15 domain, IL-15 variant or IL-15 receptor such as IL-15R-alpha, IL-15RαSu, IL-15Rα exon 3 deletion, IL-2R-beta or gamma-C, or functional fragments thereof and such polypeptides further comprising an immunoglobulin Fc domain or a functional fragment thereof.

The terms “fusion molecule” and “fusion protein” are used interchangeably and are meant to refer to a biologically active polypeptide usually a TCR or antibody and an effector molecule usually a protein or peptide sequence covalently linked (i.e. fused) by recombinant, chemical or other suitable method. If desired, the fusion molecule can be fused at one or several sites through a peptide linker sequence. Alternatively, the peptide linker may be used to assist in construction of the fusion molecule. Specifically preferred fusion molecules are fusion proteins. Generally fusion molecule also can be comprised of conjugate molecules.

The term “host cell” is meant to refer to any prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell that contains either a cloning vector or an expression vector. This term also includes those prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells that have been genetically engineered to contain the cloned gene(s) in the chromosome or genome of the host cell.

The term “immune response” as used herein is meant to refer to the process whereby immune cells are stimulated and/or recruited from the blood to lymphoid as well as non-lymphoid tissues via a multifactorial process that involves distinct adhesive and/or activation steps. Activation conditions cause the release of cytokines, growth factors, chemokines and other factors, upregulate expression of adhesion and other activation molecules on the immune cells, promote adhesion, morphological changes, and/or extravasation concurrent with chemotaxis through the tissues, increase cell proliferation and cytotoxic activity, stimulate antigen presentation and provide other phenotypic changes including generation of memory cell types. Immune response is also meant to refer to the activity of immune cells to suppress or regulate inflammatory or cytotoxic activity of other immune cells. Immune response refers to the activity of immune cells in vivo or in vitro.

As used herein, the terms “polynucleotide” and “nucleic acid molecule” are used interchangeably to refer to polymeric forms of nucleotides of any length. The polynucleotides may contain deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and/or their analogs. Nucleotides may have any three-dimensional structure, and may perform any function, known or unknown. The term “polynucleotide” includes, for example, single-, double-stranded and triple helical molecules, a gene or gene fragment, exons, introns, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, ribozymes, antisense molecules, cDNA, recombinant polynucleotides, branched polynucleotides, aptamers, plasmids, vectors, isolated DNA of any sequence, isolated RNA of any sequence, nucleic acid probes, and primers. A nucleic acid molecule may also comprise modified nucleic acid molecules (e.g., comprising modified bases, sugars, and/or internucleotide linkers).

The term “polypeptide” is meant to refer to any polymer preferably consisting essentially of any of the 20 natural amino acids regardless of its size. Although the term “protein” is often used in reference to relatively large proteins, and “peptide” is often used in reference to small polypeptides, use of these terms in the field often overlaps. The term “polypeptide” refers generally to proteins, polypeptides, and peptides unless otherwise noted. Peptides useful in accordance with the present invention in general will be generally between about 0.1 to 100 KD or greater up to about 1000 KD, preferably between about 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 KD as judged by standard molecule sizing techniques such as centrifugation or SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

The terms “prevent”, “preventing”, “prevention”, “prophylactic treatment” and the like are meant to refer to reducing the probability of developing a disorder or condition in a subject, who does not have, but is at risk of or susceptible to developing a disorder or condition. Prevention and the like do not mean preventing a subject from ever getting the specific disease or disorder. Prevention may require the administration of multiple doses. Prevention can include the prevention of a recurrence of a disease in a subject for whom all disease symptoms were eliminated, or prevention of recurrence in a relapsing-remitting disease.

The term “single chain antibody” is meant to refer to an antibody based on a single chain format. Single chain antibodies can consist of the minimal binding subunit of antibodies. Single-chain antibodies can combine only those antigen-binding regions (e.g., all or some of the complement determining regions, CDRs present in the heavy chain variable region and/or the light chain variable region) of antibodies on a single stably-folded polypeptide chain. As such, single-chain antibodies are of considerably smaller size than classical immunoglobulins but retain the antigen-specific binding properties of antibodies. Single chain antibodies may be linked to a wide range of ligands, for example effector molecules or drug conjugates.

The term “soluble” as used herein is meant that the fusion molecule and particularly a fusion protein that is not readily sedimented under low G-force centrifugation (e.g. less than about 30,000 revolutions per minute in a standard centrifuge) from an aqueous buffer, e.g., cell media. Further, the fusion molecule is soluble if it remains in aqueous solution at a temperature greater than about 5-37° C. and at or near neutral pH in the presence of low or no concentration of an anionic or non-ionic detergent. Under these conditions, a soluble protein will often have a low sedimentation value e.g., less than about 10 to 50 svedberg units.

Aqueous solutions referenced herein typically have a buffering compound to establish pH, typically within a pH range of about 5-9, and an ionic strength range between about 2 mM and 500 mM. Sometimes a protease inhibitor or mild non-ionic detergent is added. Additionally, a carrier protein may be added if desired such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) to a few mg/ml. Exemplary aqueous buffers include standard phosphate buffered saline, tris-buffered saline, or other well-known buffers and cell media formulations.

The term “stimulate” or “stimulating” is meant to refer to increase, to amplify, to augment, to boost a physiological activity, e.g., an immune response. Stimulation can be a positive alteration. An exemplary increase can be e.g., by 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 90-100%. Other exemplary increases include 2-fold, 5-fold, 10-fold, 20-fold, 40-fold, or even 100-fold.

The term “suppress” or “suppressing” is meant to refer to decrease, to attenuate, to diminish, to arrest, or to stabilize a physiological activity, e.g., an immune response. Suppression may be a negative alteration. An exemplary decrease can be e.g., by 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, or even 90-100%. Exemplary decreases include 2-fold, 5-fold, 10-fold, 20-fold, 40-fold, or even 100-fold.

The term “T-cell Receptor” (TCR) is meant to refer to polypeptides of or derived from a complex of integral membrane proteins that participates in the activation of T cells in response to the presentation of antigen. In some cases, T cells recognize a peptide bound to the MHC product through the αβ or γδ-heterodimeric T cell receptor (TCR). The TCR repertoire has extensive diversity created by the same gene rearrangement mechanisms used in antibody heavy and light chain genes [Tonegawa, S. (1988) Biosci. Rep. 8:3-26]. Most of the diversity is generated at the junctions of variable (V) and joining (J) (or diversity, D) regions that encode the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of the α and β chains [Davis and Bjorkman (1988) Nature 334:395-402]. However, TCRs do not undergo somatic point mutations as do antibodies and, perhaps not coincidentally. TCRs also do not undergo the same extent of affinity maturation as antibodies. TCRs as they occur in nature appear to have affinities that range from 10⁵ to 10⁷ M⁻¹, whereas antibodies typically have affinities that range from 10⁵ to 10⁹ M⁻¹ [Davis et al. (1998) Annu. Rev. Immunol. 16:523-544; Eisen et al. (1996) Adv. Protein Chem. 49:1-56]. While the absence of somatic mutation in TCRs may be associated with lower affinities, it has also been argued that there is not a selective advantage for a TCR to have higher affinity. In fact, the serial-triggering [Valitutti et al. (1995) Nature 375:148-151] and kinetic proofreading [Rabinowitz et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:1401-1405] models of T cell activation both suggest that longer off-rates (associated with higher affinity) would be detrimental to the signaling process. It is also possible that higher affinity TCRs might not maintain the peptide specificity required for T cell responses. For example, peptides bound within the MHC groove display limited accessible surface [Bjorkman, P. J. (1997) Cell 89:167-170], which may in turn limit the amount of energy that can be generated in the interaction. On the other hand, raising the affinity of a TCR by directing the energy toward the MHC helices would presumably lead to thymic deletion during negative selection [Bevan, M. J. (1997) Immunity 7:175-178]. The term “TCR” encompasses polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, humanized, heterodimeric and single-chain T-cell receptors or functional fragment thereof, including molecule comprising the TCR Vα and Vβ domains. The term “TCR” also encompasses T-cell receptors disclosed in for example, US Provisional Application Entitled “T CELL RECEPTOR FUSIONS AND CONJUGATES AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF”, filed Mar. 19, 2008 and US Patent Publication US 20030144474.

The term “vector” is a nucleic acid molecule that is able to replicate autonomously in a host cell and can accept foreign DNA. A vector carries its own origin of replication, one or more unique recognition sites for restriction endonucleases which can be used for the insertion of foreign DNA, and usually selectable markers such as genes coding for antibiotic resistance, and often recognition sequences (e.g. promoter) for the expression of the inserted DNA. Common vectors include plasmid vectors and phage vectors.

The terms “Fc domain” or “Fc region” is meant to refer to the immunoglobulin heavy chain “fragment crystallizable” region. Generally, an Fc domain is capable of interacting with a second Fc domain to form a dimeric complex. The Fc domain may be capable of binding cell surface receptors called Fc receptors and/or proteins of the complement system or may be modified to reduce or augment these binding activities. The Fc domain may be derived from IgG, IgA, IgD, IgM or IgE antibody isotypes and effect immune activity including opsonization, cell lysis, degranulation of mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils, and other Fc receptor-dependent processes; activation of the complement pathway; and protein stability in vivo.

The abbreviations used are: IgG, immunoglobulin; h, human; IL, interleukin; R, receptor; Su, sushi domain; TCR, T cell receptor; sc, single-chain; sTNFR, soluble tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) receptor; NK, natural killer; KD, equilibrium dissociation constant; CTLs, cytotoxic T lymphocytes; aa, amino acid(s); OVA, ovalbumin; VSV, vesicular stomatitis virus; IMDM, Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium; CHO, Chinese hamster ovary; mAb, monoclonal antibody; β2m, β2 microglobulin; SA, streptavidin; HRP, horse radish peroxidase; PE, phycoerythrin; ABTS, 2,2′-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]-diammonium salt; PLE, peptide loading enhancer; c264scTCR, soluble single-chain TCR specific to human p53 (aa264-272) peptide/HLA-A*0201 complex; c149scTCR, soluble single-chain TCR specific to human p53 (aa149-157) peptide/HLA-A*0201 complex; OT1scTCR, soluble single-chain TCR specific to OVA (aa257-264) peptide/H-2 Kb complex; SEC, size-exclusion chromatography; pMHCI, peptide/MHC class I; SPR, surface plasmon resonance; MW, molecular weight; m, murine; A, absorbance; RU, response units.

Ranges provided herein are understood to be shorthand for all of the values within the range. For example, a range of 1 to 50 is understood to include any number, combination of numbers, or sub-range from the group consisting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50.

“More than one” is understood as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 100, etc., or any value therebetween. “At least” a specific value, is understood to be that value and all values greater than that value.

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “or” is understood to be inclusive.

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” are understood to be singular or plural.

Unless specifically stated or obvious from context, as used herein, the term “about” is understood as within a range of normal tolerance in the art, for example within 2 standard deviations of the mean. About can be understood as within 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.1%, 0.05%, or 0.01% of the stated value. Unless otherwise clear from context, all numerical values provided herein can be modified by the term about.

The recitation of a listing of chemical groups in any definition of a variable herein includes definitions of that variable as any single group or combination of listed groups. The recitation of an embodiment for a variable or aspect herein includes that embodiment as any single embodiment or in combination with any other embodiments or portions thereof.

Any compositions or methods provided herein can be combined with one or more of any of the other compositions and methods provided herein.

Fc Domain

Immunoglobulins of IgG class are among the most abundant proteins in human blood. Their circulation half-lives can reach as long as 21 days. Fusion proteins have been reported to combine the Fc regions of IgG with the domains of another protein, such as various cytokines and soluble receptors (see, for example, Capon et al., Nature, 337:525-531, 1989; Chamow et al., Trends Biotechnol., 14:52-60, 1996); U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,116,964 and 5,541,087). The prototype fusion protein is a homodimeric protein linked through cysteine residues in the hinge region of IgG Fc, resulting in a molecule similar to an IgG molecule without the heavy chain variable and C_(H)1 domains and light chains. The dimer nature of fusion proteins comprising the Fc domain may be advantageous in providing higher order interactions (i.e. bivalent or bispecific binding) with other molecules. Due to the structural homology, Fc fusion proteins exhibit in vivo pharmacokinetic profile comparable to that of human IgG with a similar isotype. To extend the circulating half-life of IL-15 or IL-15 fusion protein and/or to increase its biological activity, it is desirable to make fusion protein complexes containing the IL-15 domain non-covalently bound to IL-15Rα covalently linked to the Fc portion of the human heavy chain IgG protein as disclosed or described in this invention.

The term “Fc” refers to molecule or sequence comprising the sequence of a non-antigen-binding fragment of whole antibody, whether in monomeric or multimeric form. The original immunoglobulin source of the native Fc is preferably of human origin and may be any of the immunoglobulins, although IgG1 and IgG2 are preferred. Native Fc's are made up of monomeric polypeptides that may be linked into dimeric or multimeric forms by covalent (i.e., disulfide bonds) and non-covalent association. The number of intermolecular disulfide bonds between monomeric subunits of native Fc molecules ranges from 1 to 4 depending on class (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgE) or subclass (e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgA1, IgGA2). One example of a native Fc is a disulfide-bonded dimer resulting from papain digestion of an IgG (see Ellison et al. (1982), Nucleic Acids Res. 10: 4071-9). The term “native Fc” as used herein is generic to the monomeric, dimeric, and multimeric forms. Fc domains containing binding sites for Protein A, Protein G, various Fc receptors and complement proteins

In some embodiments, the term “Fc variant” refers to a molecule or sequence that is modified from a native Fc but still comprises a binding site for the salvage receptor, FcRn. International applications WO 97/34631 (published Sep. 25, 1997) and WO 96/32478 describe exemplary Fc variants, as well as interaction with the salvage receptor, and are hereby incorporated by reference. Thus, the term “Fc variant” comprises a molecule or sequence that is humanized from a non-human native Fc. Furthermore, a native Fc comprises sites that may be removed because they provide structural features or biological activity that are not required for the fusion molecules of the present invention. Thus, in certain embodiments, the term “Fc variant” comprises a molecule or sequence that lacks one or more native Fc sites or residues that affect or are involved in (1) disulfide bond formation, (2) incompatibility with a selected host cell (3) N-terminal heterogeneity upon expression in a selected host cell, (4) glycosylation, (5) interaction with complement, (6) binding to an Fc receptor other than a salvage receptor, or (7) antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Fc variants are described in further detail hereinafter.

The term “Fc domain” encompasses native Fc and Fc variant molecules and sequences as defined above. As with Fc variants and native Fc's, the term “Fc domain” includes molecules in monomeric or multimeric form, whether digested from whole antibody or produced by recombinant gene expression or by other means.

T-Cell Receptors (TCR)

T-cells are a subgroup of cells which together with other immune cell types (polymorphonuclear, eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, B-cells, NK cells), constitute the cellular component of the immune system. Under physiological conditions T-cells function in immune surveillance and in the elimination of foreign antigen. However, under pathological conditions there is compelling evidence that T-cells play a major role in the causation and propagation of disease. In these disorders, breakdown of T-cell immunological tolerance, either central or peripheral is a fundamental process in the causation of autoimmune disease.

The TCR complex is composed of at least seven transmembrane proteins. The disulfide-linked (αβ or γδ) heterodimer forms the monotypic antigen recognition unit, while the invariant chains of CD3, consisting of ε, γ, δ, ζ, and η chains, are responsible for coupling the ligand binding to signaling pathways that result in T-cell activation and the elaboration of the cellular immune responses. Despite the gene diversity of the TCR chains, two structural features are common to all known subunits. Firstly, they are transmembrane proteins with a single transmembrane spanning domain—presumably alpha-helical. Secondly, all the TCR chains have the unusual feature of possessing a charged amino acid within the predicted transmembrane domain. The invariant chains have a single negative charge, conserved between the mouse and human, and the variant chains possess one (TCR-β) or two (TCR-α) positive charges. The transmembrane sequence of TCR-α is highly conserved in a number of species and thus phylogenetically may serve an important functional role. The octapeptide sequence containing the hydrophilic amino acids arginine and lysine is identical between the species.

A T-cell response is modulated by antigen binding to a TCR. One type of TCR is a membrane bound heterodimer consisting of an α and β chain resembling an immunoglobulin variable (V) and constant (C) region. The TCR α chain includes a covalently linked V-α and C-α chain, whereas the β chain includes a V-β chain covalently linked to a C-β chain. The V-α and V-β chains form a pocket or cleft that can bind a superantigen or antigen in the context of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (known in humans as an HLA complex). See generally Davis Ann. Rev. of Immunology 3: 537 (1985); Fundamental Immunology 3rd Ed., W. Paul Ed. Rsen Press LTD. New York (1993).

The extracellular domains of the TCR chains (αβ or γδ) can also engineered as fusions to heterologous transmembrane domains for expression on the cell surface. Such TCRs may include fusions to CD3, CD28, CD8, 4-1BB and/or chimeric activation receptor (CAR) transmembrane or activation domains. TCRs can also be the soluble proteins comprising one or more of the antigen binding domains of αβ or γδ chains. Such TCRs may include the TCR variable domains or function fragments thereof with or without the TCR constant domains. Soluble TCRs may be heterodimeric or single-chain molecules.

Fusions Protein Complexes

The soluble fusion protein and conjugate molecule complexes of the invention comprise at least two soluble fusion proteins. In certain embodiments, the first fusion protein comprises a first biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to interleukin-15 (IL-15) or functional fragment thereof; and the second fusion protein comprises a second biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to soluble interleukin-15 receptor alpha (IL-15Rα) polypeptide or functional fragment thereof, and wherein IL-15 domain of a first fusion protein binds to the soluble IL-15Rα domain of the second fusion protein to form a soluble fusion protein complex. Fusion protein complexes of the invention also comprise immunoglobulin Fc domain or a functional fragment thereof linked to one or both of the first and second fusion proteins. Preferably the Fc domains linked to the first and second fusion proteins interact to from a fusion protein complex. Such a complex may be stabilized by disulfide bond formation between the immunoglobulin Fc domains. In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complexes of the invention include an IL-15 polypeptide, IL-15 variant or a functional fragment thereof and a soluble IL-15Rα polypeptide or a functional fragment thereof, wherein one or both of the IL-15 and IL-15Rα polypeptides further include an immunoglobulin Fc domain or a functional fragment thereof.

In certain examples, one of the biologically active polypeptides comprises a first soluble TCR or fragment thereof. The other or second biologically active polypeptide comprises the first soluble TCR or functional fragment thereof and thus creates a multivalent TCR fusion protein complex with increased binding activity for cognate ligands compared to the monovalent TCR. Further, the other biologically active polypeptide comprises a second soluble TCR or functional fragment thereof, different than the first soluble TCR. In certain examples, TCRs are produced that have higher affinity, or increased binding affinity for cognate ligands as compared, for example, to the native TCR. If the soluble TCR of the invention as described herein has a higher avidity or affinity for its ligand, then it is useful as a specific probe for cell-surface bound antigen. In certain preferred examples of the invention, the TCR is specific for recognition of a particular antigen.

In exemplary embodiments, TCR is a heterodimer comprising an α chain (herein referred to as α, alpha, or a chain) and a β chain (herein referred to as β, beta, or b chain). In other exemplary embodiments, the TCR comprises a single chain TCR polypeptide. The single chain TCR may comprise a TCR V-α chain covalently linked to a TCR V-β chain by a peptide linker sequence. The single chain TCR may further comprise a soluble TCR Cβ chain fragment covalently linked to a TCR V-β chain. The single chain TCR may further comprise a soluble TCR Cα chain fragment covalently linked to a TCR V-α chain.

In a further embodiment, one or both of the first and second biologically active polypeptides comprises an antibody or functional fragment thereof.

In another embodiment, the antigen for the TCR domain comprises peptide antigen presented in an MHC or HLA molecule. In a further embodiment, the peptide antigen is derived from a tumor associated polypeptide or virus encoded polypeptide.

In another embodiment, the antigen for the antibody domain comprises a cell surface receptor or ligand.

In a further embodiment, the antigen comprises a CD antigen, cytokine or chemokine receptor or ligand, growth factor receptor or ligand, tissue factor, cell adhesion molecule, MHC/MHC-like molecules, Fc receptor, Toll-like receptor, NK receptor, TCR, BCR, positive/negative co-stimulatory receptor or ligand, death receptor or ligand, tumor associated antigen, or virus encoded antigen.

As used herein, the term “biologically active polypeptide” or “effector molecule” is meant an amino acid sequence such as a protein, polypeptide or peptide; a sugar or polysaccharide; a lipid or a glycolipid, glycoprotein, or lipoprotein that can produce the desired effects as discussed herein. Effector molecules also include chemical agents. Also contemplated are effector molecule nucleic acids encoding a biologically active or effector protein, polypeptide, or peptide. Thus, suitable molecules include regulatory factors, enzymes, antibodies, or drugs as well as DNA, RNA, and oligonucleotides. The biologically active polypeptides or effector molecule can be naturally-occurring or it can be synthesized from known components, e.g., by recombinant or chemical synthesis and can include heterologous components. A biologically active polypeptides or effector molecule is generally between about 0.1 to 100 KD or greater up to about 1000 KD, preferably between about 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 KD as judged by standard molecule sizing techniques such as centrifugation or SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Desired effects of the invention include, but are not limited to, for example, forming a fusion protein complex of the invention with increased binding activity, killing a target cell, e.g. either to induce cell proliferation or cell death, initiate an immune response, in preventing or treating a disease, or to act as a detection molecule for diagnostic purposes. For such detection, an assay could be used, for example an assay that includes sequential steps of culturing cells to proliferate same, and contacting the cells with a TCR fusion complex of the invention and then evaluating whether the TCR fusion complex inhibits further development of the cells.

Covalently linking the effector molecule to the fusion protein complexes of the invention in accordance with the invention provides a number of significant advantages. Fusion protein complexes of the invention can be produced that contain a single effector molecule, including such a peptide of known structure. Additionally, a wide variety of effector molecules can be produced in similar DNA vectors. That is, a library of different effector molecules can be linked to the fusion protein complexes for recognition of infected or diseased cells. Further, for therapeutic applications, rather than administration of a the fusion protein complex of the invention to a subject, a DNA expression vector coding for the fusion protein complex can be administered for in vivo expression of the fusion protein complex. Such an approach avoids costly purification steps typically associated with preparation of recombinant proteins and avoids the complexities of antigen uptake and processing associated with conventional approaches.

As noted, components of the fusion proteins disclosed herein, e.g., effector molecule such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, protein toxins, immunoglobulin domains or other bioactive molecules and any peptide linkers, can be organized in nearly any fashion provided that the fusion protein has the function for which it was intended. In particular, each component of the fusion protein can be spaced from another component by at least one suitable peptide linker sequence if desired. Additionally, the fusion proteins may include tags, e.g., to facilitate modification, identification and/or purification of the fusion protein. More specific fusion proteins are in the Examples described below.

Linkers

The fusion complexes of the invention preferably also include a flexible linker sequence interposed between the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains and the biologically active polypeptide. The linker sequence should allow effective positioning of the biologically active polypeptide with respect to the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains to allow functional activity of both domains. In embodiments where the biologically active polypeptide is a TCR, the linker sequence positions the TCR molecule binding groove so that the T cell receptor can recognize presenting MHC-peptide complexes and can deliver the effector molecule to a desired site. Successful presentation of the effector molecule can modulate the activity of a cell either to induce or to inhibit T-cell proliferation, or to initiate or inhibit an immune response to a particular site, as determined by the assays disclosed below, including the in vitro assays that includes sequential steps of culturing T cells to proliferate same, and contacting the T cells with a TCR fusion complex of the invention and then evaluating whether the TCR fusion complex inhibits further development of the cells.

In certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complex has a linker wherein the first biologically active polypeptide is covalently linked to IL-15 (or functional fragment thereof) by polypeptide linker sequence.

In other certain embodiments, the soluble fusion protein complex as described herein has a linker wherein the second biologically active polypeptide is covalently linked to IL-15Rα polypeptide (or functional fragment thereof) by polypeptide linker sequence.

The linker sequence is preferably encoded by a nucleotide sequence resulting in a peptide that can effectively position the binding groove of a TCR molecule for recognition of a presenting antigen or the binding domain of an antibody molecule for recognition of an antigen. As used herein, the phrase “effective positioning of the biologically active polypeptide with respect to the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains”, or other similar phrase, is intended to mean the biologically active polypeptide linked to the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains is positioned so that the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains are capable of interacting with each other to form a protein complex. In certain embodiments, the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains are effectively positioned to allow interactions with immune cells to initiate or inhibit an immune reaction, or to inhibit or stimulate cell development.

The fusion complexes of the invention preferably also include a flexible linker sequence interposed between the IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains and the immunoglobulin Fc domain. The linker sequence should allow effective positioning of the Fc domain, biologically active polypeptide and IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains to allow functional activity of each domain. In certain embodiments, the Fc domains are effectively positioned to allow proper fusion protein complex formation and/or interactions with Fc receptors on immune cells or proteins of the complement system to stimulate Fc-mediated effects including opsonization, cell lysis, degranulation of mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils, and other Fc receptor-dependent processes; activation of the complement pathway; and enhanced in vivo half-life of the fusion protein complex.

Linker sequences can also be used to link two or more polypeptides of the biologically active polypeptide to generated a single-chain molecule with the desired functional activity.

Preferably the linker sequence comprises from about 7 to 20 amino acids, more preferably from about 8 to 16 amino acids. The linker sequence is preferably flexible so as not hold the biologically active polypeptide or effector molecule in a single undesired conformation. The linker sequence can be used, e.g., to space the recognition site from the fused molecule. Specifically, the peptide linker sequence can be positioned between the biologically active polypeptide and the effector molecule, e.g., to chemically cross-link same and to provide molecular flexibility. The linker preferably predominantly comprises amino acids with small side chains, such as glycine, alanine and serine, to provide for flexibility. Preferably about 80 or 90 percent or greater of the linker sequence comprises glycine, alanine or serine residues, particularly glycine and serine residues. For a fusion protein complex that comprise a heterodimer TCR, the linker sequence is suitably linked to the β chain of the TCR molecule, although the linker sequence also could be attached to the a chain of the TCR molecule. Alternatively, linker sequence may be linked to both a and β chains of the TCR molecule. When such a β peptide chain is expressed along with the a chain, the linked TCR polypeptide should fold resulting in a functional TCR molecule as generally depicted in FIG. 1. One suitable linker sequence is ASGGGGSGGG (i.e., Ala Ser Gly Gly Gly Gly Ser Gly Gly Gly) (SEQ ID NO: 5), preferably linked to the first amino acid of the β domain of the TCR. Different linker sequences could be used including any of a number of flexible linker designs that have been used successfully to join antibody variable regions together, see Whitlow, M. et al., (1991) Methods: A Companion to Methods in Enzymology 2:97-105. In some examples, for covalently linking an effector molecule to a TCR β chain molecule, the amino sequence of the linker should be capable of spanning suitable distance from the C-terminal residue of the TCR β chain to the N-terminal residue of the effector molecule. Suitable linker sequences can be readily identified empirically. Additionally, suitable size and sequences of linker sequences also can be determined by conventional computer modeling techniques based on the predicted size and shape of the TCR molecule.

In general, preparation of the fusion protein complexes of the invention can be accomplished by procedures disclosed herein and by recognized recombinant DNA techniques involving, e.g., polymerase chain amplification reactions (PCR), preparation of plasmid DNA, cleavage of DNA with restriction enzymes, preparation of oligonucleotides, ligation of DNA, isolation of mRNA, introduction of the DNA into a suitable cell, transformation or transfection of a host, culturing of the host. Additionally, the fusion molecules can be isolated and purified using chaotropic agents and well known electrophoretic, centrifugation and chromatographic methods. See generally, Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (2nd ed. (1989); and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1989) for disclosure relating to these methods.

As used herein, biologically active polypeptides or effector molecules of the invention may include factors such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, protein toxins, immunoglobulin domains or other bioactive proteins such as enzymes. Also biologically active polypeptides may include conjugates to other compounds such as non-protein toxins, cytotoxic agents, chemotherapeutic agents, detectable labels, radioactive materials and such.

Cytokines of the invention are defined by any factor produced by cells that affect other cells and are responsible for any of a number of multiple effects of cellular immunity. Examples of cytokines include but are not limited to the IL-2 family, interferon (IFN), IL-10, IL-1, IL-17, TGF and TNF cytokine families, and to IL-1 through IL-35, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFNγ, TGF-β, TNF-α, and TNFβ.

In an aspect of the invention, the first fusion protein comprises a first biologically active polypeptide covalently linked to interleukin-15 (IL-15) domain or a functional fragment thereof. IL-15 is a cytokine that affects T-cell activation and proliferation. IL-15 activity in affecting immune cell activation and proliferation is similar in some respects to IL2, although fundamental differences have been well characterized (Waldmann, T A, 2006, Nature Rev. Immunol. 6:595-601).

In another aspect of the invention, the first fusion protein comprises an interleukin-15 (IL-15) domain that is an IL-15 variant (also referred to herein as IL-15 mutant). The IL-15 variant preferably comprises a different amino acid sequence that the native (or wild type) IL-15 protein. The IL-15 variant preferably binds the IL-15Rα polypeptide and functions as an IL-15 agonist or antagonist. Preferably IL-15 variants with agonist activity have super agonist activity. In some embodiments, the IL-15 variant can function as an IL-15 agonist or antagonist independent of its association with IL-15Rα. IL-15 agonists are exemplified by comparable or increased biological activity compared to wild type IL-15. IL-15 antagonists are exemplified by decreased biological activity compared to wild type IL-15 or by the ability to inhibit IL-15-mediated responses. In some examples, the IL-15 variant binds with increased or decreased activity to the IL-15RβγC receptors. In some embodiments, the sequence of the IL-15 variant has at least one amino acid change, e.g. substitution or deletion, compared to the native IL-2 sequence, such changes resulting in IL-15 agonist or antagonist activity. Preferably the amino acid substitutions/deletions are in the domains of IL-15 that interact with IL-15Rβ and/or γC. More preferably, the amino acid substitutions/deletions do not affect binding to the IL-15Rα polypeptide or the ability to produce the IL-15 variant. Suitable amino acid substitutions/deletions to generate IL-15 variants can be identified based on putative or known IL-15 structures, comparisons of IL-15 with homologous molecules such as IL-2 with known structure, through rational or random mutagenesis and functional assays, as provided herein, or other empirical methods. Additionally suitable amino acid substitutions can be conservative or non-conservative changes and insertions of additional amino acids. Preferably IL-15 variants of the invention contain one or more than one amino acid substitutions/deletions at position 6, 8, 10, 61, 65, 72, 92, 101, 104, 105, 108, 109, 111, or 112 of the mature human IL-15 sequence; particularly, D8N (“D8” refers to the amino acid and residue position in the native mature human IL-15 sequence and “N” refers to the substituted amino acid residue at that position in the IL-15 variant), I6S, D8A, D61A, N65A, N72R, V104P or Q108A substitutions result in IL-15 variants with antagonist activity and N72D substitutions result in IL-15 variants with agonist activity.

Chemokines, similar to cytokines, are defined as any chemical factor or molecule which when exposed to other cells are responsible for any of a number of multiple effects of cellular immunity. Suitable chemokines may include but are not limited to the CXC, CC, C, and CX₃C chemokine families and to CCL-1 through CCL-28, CXC-1 through CXC-17, XCL-1, XCL-2, CX3CL1, MIP-1b, IL-8, MCP-1, and Rantes.

Growth factors include any molecules which when exposed to a particular cell induce proliferation and/or differentiation of the affected cell. Growth factors include proteins and chemical molecules, some of which include: GM-CSF, G-CSF, human growth factor and stem cell growth factor. Additional growth factors may also be suitable for uses described herein.

Toxins or cytotoxic agents include any substance that has a lethal effect or an inhibitory effect on growth when exposed to cells. More specifically, the effector molecule can be a cell toxin of, e.g., plant or bacterial origin such as, e.g., diphtheria toxin (DT), shiga toxin, abrin, cholera toxin, ricin, saporin, pseudomonas exotoxin (PE), pokeweed antiviral protein, or gelonin. Biologically active fragments of such toxins are well known in the art and include, e.g., DT A chain and ricin A chain. Additionally, the toxin can be an agent active at the cell surface such as, e.g., phospholipase enzymes (e.g., phospholipase C).

Further, the effector molecule can be a chemotherapeutic drug such as, e.g., vindesine, vincristine, vinblastin, methotrexate, adriamycin, bleomycin, or cisplatin.

Additionally, the effector molecule can be a detectably-labeled molecule suitable for diagnostic or imaging studies. Such labels include biotin or streptavidin/avidin, a detectable nanoparticles or crystal, an enzyme or catalytically active fragment thereof, a fluorescent label such as green fluorescent protein, FITC, phycoerythrin, cychome, texas red or quantum dots; a radionuclide e.g., iodine-131, yttrium-90, rhenium-188 or bismuth-212; a phosphorescent or chemiluminescent molecules or a label detectable by PET, ultrasound or MRI such as Gd- or paramagnetic metal ion-based contrast agents. See e.g., Moskaug, et al. J. Biol. Chem. 264, 15709 (1989); Pastan, I. et al. Cell 47, 641, 1986; Pastan et al., Recombinant Toxins as Novel Therapeutic Agents, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 61, 331, (1992); “Chimeric Toxins” Olsnes and Phil, Pharmac. Ther., 25, 355 (1982); published PCT application no. WO 94/29350; published PCT application no. WO 94/04689; published PCT application no. WO2005046449 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,939 for disclosure relating to making and using proteins comprising effectors or tags.

A protein fusion or conjugate complex that includes a covalently linked IL-15 and IL-15Rα domains has several important uses. For example, the protein fusion or conjugate complex comprising a TCR can be employed to deliver the IL-15:IL-15Rα complex to certain cells capable of specifically binding the TCR. Accordingly, the protein fusion or conjugate complex provide means of selectively damaging or killing cells comprising the ligand. Examples of cells or tissue capable of being damaged or killed by the protein fusion or conjugate complexes comprising a TCR include tumors and virally or bacterially infected cells expressing one or more ligands capable of being specifically bound by the TCR. Cells or tissue susceptible to being damaged or killed can be readily assayed by the methods disclosed herein.

The IL-15 and IL-15Rα polypeptides of the invention suitably correspond in amino acid sequence to naturally occurring IL-15 and IL-15Rα molecules, e.g. IL-15 and IL-15Rα molecules of a human, mouse or other rodent, or other mammal. Sequences of these polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids are known in the literature, including human interleukin 15 (IL15) mRNA—GenBank: U14407.1, Mus musculus interleukin 15 (IL15) mRNA—GenBank: U14332.1, human interleukin-15 receptor alpha chain precursor (IL15RA) mRNA—GenBank: U31628.1, Mus musculus interleukin 15 receptor, alpha chain—GenBank: BC095982.1.

In some settings it can be useful to make the protein fusion or conjugate complexes of the present invention polyvalent, e.g., to increase the valency of the sc-TCR or sc-antibody. In particular, interactions between the IL-15 and IL-15Rα domains of the fusion protein complex provide a means of generating polyvalent complexes. In addition, the polyvalent fusion protein can made by covalently or non-covalently linking together between one and four proteins (the same or different) by using e.g., standard biotin-streptavidin labeling techniques, or by conjugation to suitable solid supports such as latex beads. Chemically cross-linked proteins (for example cross-linked to dendrimers) are also suitable polyvalent species. For example, the protein can be modified by including sequences encoding tag sequences that can be modified such as the biotinylation BirA tag or amino acid residues with chemically reactive side chains such as Cys or His. Such amino acid tags or chemically reactive amino acids may be positioned in a variety of positions in the fusion protein, preferably distal to the active site of the biologically active polypeptide or effector molecule. For example, the C-terminus of a soluble fusion protein can be covalently linked to a tag or other fused protein which includes such a reactive amino acid(s). Suitable side chains can be included to chemically link two or more fusion proteins to a suitable dendrimer or other nanoparticle to give a multivalent molecule. Dendrimers are synthetic chemical polymers that can have any one of a number of different functional groups of their surface (D. Tomalia, Aldrichimica Acta, 26:91:101 (1993)). Exemplary dendrimers for use in accordance with the present invention include e.g. E9 starburst polyamine dendrimer and E9 combust polyamine dendrimer, which can link cystine residues. Exemplary nanoparticles include liposomes, core-shell particles or PLGA-based particles.

In another embodiment of the invention, one or both of the polypeptides of the fusion protein complex comprises an immunoglobulin domain. Alternatively, the protein binding domain-IL-15 fusion protein can be further linked to an immunoglobulin domain. The preferred immunoglobulin domains comprise regions that allow interaction with other immunoglobulin domains to form multichain proteins as provided above. For example, the immunoglobulin heavy chain regions, such as the IgG1 C_(H)2-C_(H)3, are capable of stably interacting to create the Fc region. Preferred immunoglobulin domains including Fc domains also comprise regions with effector functions, including Fc receptor or complement protein binding activity, and/or with glycosylation sites. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin domains of the fusion protein complex contain mutations that reduce or augment Fc receptor or complement binding activity or glycosylation, thereby affecting the biological activity of the resulting protein. For example, immunoglobulin domains containing mutations that reduce binding to Fc receptors could be used to generate fusion protein complex of the invention with lower binding activity to Fc receptor-bearing cells, which may be advantageous for reagents designed to recognize or detect specific antigens.

Nucleic Acids and Vectors

The invention further provides nucleic acid sequences and particularly DNA sequences that encode the present fusion proteins. Preferably, the DNA sequence is carried by a vector suited for extrachromosomal replication such as a phage, virus, plasmid, phagemid, cosmid, YAC, or episome. In particular, a DNA vector that encodes a desired fusion protein can be used to facilitate preparative methods described herein and to obtain significant quantities of the fusion protein. The DNA sequence can be inserted into an appropriate expression vector, i.e., a vector that contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted protein-coding sequence. A variety of host-vector systems may be utilized to express the protein-coding sequence. These include mammalian cell systems infected with virus (e.g., vaccinia virus, adenovirus, etc.); insect cell systems infected with virus (e.g., baculovirus); microorganisms such as yeast containing yeast vectors, or bacteria transformed with bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA. Depending on the host-vector system utilized, any one of a number of suitable transcription and translation elements may be used. See generally Sambrook et al., supra and Ausubel et al. supra.

Included in the invention are methods for making a soluble fusion protein complex, the method comprising introducing into a host cell a DNA vector as described herein encoding the first and second fusion proteins, culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the fusion proteins in the cell or the media and allow association between IL-15 domain of a first fusion protein and the soluble IL-15Rα domain of a second fusion protein to form the soluble fusion protein complex, purifying the soluble fusion protein complex from the host cells or media.

In general, a preferred DNA vector according to the invention comprises a nucleotide sequence linked by phosphodiester bonds comprising, in a 5′ to 3′ direction a first cloning site for introduction of a first nucleotide sequence encoding a biologically active polypeptide, operatively linked to a sequence encoding an effector molecule.

The fusion protein components encoded by the DNA vector can be provided in a cassette format. By the term “cassette” is meant that each component can be readily substituted for another component by standard recombinant methods. In particular, a DNA vector configured in a cassette format is particularly desirable when the encoded fusion complex is to be used against pathogens that may have or have capacity to develop serotypes.

To make the vector coding for a fusion protein complex, the sequence coding for the biologically active polypeptide is linked to a sequence coding for the effector peptide by use of suitable ligases. DNA coding for the presenting peptide can be obtained by isolating DNA from natural sources such as from a suitable cell line or by known synthetic methods, e.g. the phosphate triester method. See, e.g., Oligonucleotide Synthesis, IRL Press (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984). Synthetic oligonucleotides also may be prepared using commercially available automated oligonucleotide synthesizers. Once isolated, the gene coding for the biologically active polypeptide can be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or other means known in the art. Suitable PCR primers to amplify the biologically active polypeptide gene may add restriction sites to the PCR product. The PCR product preferably includes splice sites for the effector peptide and leader sequences necessary for proper expression and secretion of the biologically active polypeptide-effector fusion complex. The PCR product also preferably includes a sequence coding for the linker sequence, or a restriction enzyme site for ligation of such a sequence.

The fusion proteins described herein are preferably produced by standard recombinant DNA techniques. For example, once a DNA molecule encoding the biologically active polypeptide is isolated, sequence can be ligated to another DNA molecule encoding the effector polypeptide. The nucleotide sequence coding for a biologically active polypeptide may be directly joined to a DNA sequence coding for the effector peptide or, more typically, a DNA sequence coding for the linker sequence as discussed herein may be interposed between the sequence coding for the biologically active polypeptide and the sequence coding for the effector peptide and joined using suitable ligases. The resultant hybrid DNA molecule can be expressed in a suitable host cell to produce the fusion protein complex. The DNA molecules are ligated to each other in a 5′ to 3′ orientation such that, after ligation, the translational frame of the encoded polypeptides is not altered (i.e., the DNA molecules are ligated to each other in-frame). The resulting DNA molecules encode an in-frame fusion protein.

Other nucleotide sequences also can be included in the gene construct. For example, a promoter sequence, which controls expression of the sequence coding for the biologically active polypeptide fused to the effector peptide, or a leader sequence, which directs the fusion protein to the cell surface or the culture medium, can be included in the construct or present in the expression vector into which the construct is inserted. An immunoglobulin or CMV promoter is particularly preferred.

In obtaining variant biologically active polypeptide, IL-15, IL-15Rα or Fc domain coding sequences, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the polypeptides may be modified by certain amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, and post-translational modifications, without loss or reduction of biological activity. In particular, it is well-known that conservative amino acid substitutions, that is, substitution of one amino acid for another amino acid of similar size, charge, polarity and conformation, are unlikely to significantly alter protein function. The 20 standard amino acids that are the constituents of proteins can be broadly categorized into four groups of conservative amino acids as follows: the nonpolar (hydrophobic) group includes alanine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, tryptophan and valine; the polar (uncharged, neutral) group includes asparagine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, serine, threonine and tyrosine; the positively charged (basic) group contains arginine, histidine and lysine; and the negatively charged (acidic) group contains aspartic acid and glutamic acid. Substitution in a protein of one amino acid for another within the same group is unlikely to have an adverse effect on the biological activity of the protein. In other instance, modifications to amino acid positions can be made to reduce or enhance the biological activity of the protein. Such changes can be introduced randomly or via site-specific mutations based on known or presumed structural or functional properties of targeted residue(s). Following expression of the variant protein, the changes in the biological activity due to the modification can be readily assessed using binding or functional assays.

Homology between nucleotide sequences can be determined by DNA hybridization analysis, wherein the stability of the double-stranded DNA hybrid is dependent on the extent of base pairing that occurs. Conditions of high temperature and/or low salt content reduce the stability of the hybrid, and can be varied to prevent annealing of sequences having less than a selected degree of homology. For instance, for sequences with about 55% G-C content, hybridization and wash conditions of 40-50 C, 6×SSC (sodium chloride/sodium citrate buffer) and 0.1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) indicate about 60-70% homology, hybridization and wash conditions of 50-65 C, 1×SSC and 0.1% SDS indicate about 82-97% homology, and hybridization and wash conditions of 52 C, 0.1×SSC and 0.1% SDS indicate about 99-100% homology. A wide range of computer programs for comparing nucleotide and amino acid sequences (and measuring the degree of homology) are also available, and a list providing sources of both commercially available and free software is found in Ausubel et al. (1999). Readily available sequence comparison and multiple sequence alignment algorithms are, respectively, the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) (Altschul et al., 1997) and ClustalW programs. BLAST is available on the world wide web at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov and a version of ClustalW is available at 2.ebi.ac.uk.

The components of the fusion protein can be organized in nearly any order provided each is capable of performing its intended function. For example, in one embodiment, the biologically active polypeptide is situated at the C or N terminal end of the effector molecule.

Preferred effector molecules of the invention will have sizes conducive to the function for which those domains are intended. The effector molecules of the invention can be made and fused to the biologically active polypeptide by a variety of methods including well-known chemical cross-linking methods. See e.g., Means, G. E. and Feeney, R. E. (1974) in Chemical Modification of Proteins, Holden-Day. See also, S. S. Wong (1991) in Chemistry of Protein Conjugation and Cross-Linking, CRC Press. However it is generally preferred to use recombinant manipulations to make the in-frame fusion protein.

As noted, a fusion molecule or a conjugate molecule in accord with the invention can be organized in several ways. In an exemplary configuration, the C-terminus of the biologically active polypeptide is operatively linked to the N-terminus of the effector molecule. That linkage can be achieved by recombinant methods if desired. However, in another configuration, the N-terminus of the biologically active polypeptide is linked to the C-terminus of the effector molecule.

Alternatively, or in addition, one or more additional effector molecules can be inserted into the biologically active polypeptide or conjugate complexes as needed.

Vectors and Expression

A number of strategies can be employed to express protein fusion complexes of the invention. For example, the fusion protein construct described above can be incorporated into a suitable vector by known means such as by use of restriction enzymes to make cuts in the vector for insertion of the construct followed by ligation. The vector containing the gene construct is then introduced into a suitable host for expression of the fusion protein. See, generally, Sambrook et al., supra. Selection of suitable vectors can be made empirically based on factors relating to the cloning protocol. For example, the vector should be compatible with, and have the proper replicon for the host that is being employed. Further the vector must be able to accommodate the DNA sequence coding for the fusion protein complex that is to be expressed. Suitable host cells include eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, preferably those cells that can be easily transformed and exhibit rapid growth in culture medium. Specifically preferred hosts cells include prokaryotes such as E. coli, Bacillus subtillus, etc. and eukaryotes such as animal cells and yeast strains, e.g., S. cerevisiae. Mammalian cells are generally preferred, particularly J558, NSO, SP2-O or CHO. Other suitable hosts include, e.g., insect cells such as Sf9. Conventional culturing conditions are employed. See Sambrook, supra. Stable transformed or transfected cell lines can then be selected. Cells expressing a fusion protein complex of the invention can be determined by known procedures. For example, expression of a fusion protein complex linked to an immunoglobulin can be determined by an ELISA specific for the linked immunoglobulin and/or by immunoblotting. Other methods for detecting expression of fusion proteins comprising biologically active polypeptides linked to IL-15 or IL-15Rα domains are disclosed in the Examples.

As mentioned generally above, a host cell can be used for preparative purposes to propagate nucleic acid encoding a desired fusion protein. Thus a host cell can include a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell in which production of the fusion protein is specifically intended. Thus host cells specifically include yeast, fly, worm, plant, frog, mammalian cells and organs that are capable of propagating nucleic acid encoding the fusion. Non-limiting examples of mammalian cell lines which can be used include CHO dhfr-cells (Urlaub and Chasm, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 77:4216 (1980)), 293 cells (Graham et al., J. Gen. Virol., 36:59 (1977)) or myeloma cells like SP2 or NSO (Galfre and Milstein, Meth. Enzymol., 73(B):3 (1981)).

Host cells capable of propagating nucleic acid encoding a desired fusion protein comples encompass non-mammalian eukaryotic cells as well, including insect (e.g., Sp. frugiperda), yeast (e.g., S. cerevisiae, S. pombe, P. pastoris., K. lactis, H. polymorpha; as generally reviewed by Fleer, R., Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 3(5):486496 (1992)), fungal and plant cells. Also contemplated are certain prokaryotes such as E. coli and Bacillus.

Nucleic acid encoding a desired fusion protein can be introduced into a host cell by standard techniques for transfecting cells. The term “transfecting” or “transfection” is intended to encompass all conventional techniques for introducing nucleic acid into host cells, including calcium phosphate co-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, lipofection, electroporation, microinjection, viral transduction and/or integration. Suitable methods for transfecting host cells can be found in Sambrook et al. supra, and other laboratory textbooks.

Various promoters (transcriptional initiation regulatory region) may be used according to the invention. The selection of the appropriate promoter is dependent upon the proposed expression host. Promoters from heterologous sources may be used as long as they are functional in the chosen host.

Promoter selection is also dependent upon the desired efficiency and level of peptide or protein production. Inducible promoters such as tac are often employed in order to dramatically increase the level of protein expression in E. coli. Overexpression of proteins may be harmful to the host cells. Consequently, host cell growth may be limited. The use of inducible promoter systems allows the host cells to be cultivated to acceptable densities prior to induction of gene expression, thereby facilitating higher product yields.

Various signal sequences may be used according to the invention. A signal sequence which is homologous to the biologically active polypeptide coding sequence may be used. Alternatively, a signal sequence which has been selected or designed for efficient secretion and processing in the expression host may also be used. For example, suitable signal sequence/host cell pairs include the B. subtilis sacB signal sequence for secretion in B. subtilis, and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-mating factor or P. pastoris acid phosphatase phoI signal sequences for P. pastoris secretion. The signal sequence may be joined directly through the sequence encoding the signal peptidase cleavage site to the protein coding sequence, or through a short nucleotide bridge consisting of usually fewer than ten codons, where the bridge ensures correct reading frame of the downstream TCR sequence.

Elements for enhancing transcription and translation have been identified for eukaryotic protein expression systems. For example, positioning the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter 1000 bp on either side of a heterologous promoter may elevate transcriptional levels by 10- to 400-fold in plant cells. The expression construct should also include the appropriate translational initiation sequences. Modification of the expression construct to include a Kozak consensus sequence for proper translational initiation may increase the level of translation by 10 fold.

A selective marker is often employed, which may be part of the expression construct or separate from it (e.g., carried by the expression vector), so that the marker may integrate at a site different from the gene of interest. Examples include markers that confer resistance to antibiotics (e.g., bla confers resistance to ampicillin for E. coli host cells, nptII confers kanamycin resistance to a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells) or that permit the host to grow on minimal medium (e.g., HIS4 enables P. pastoris or His⁻ S. cerevisiae to grow in the absence of histidine). The selectable marker has its own transcriptional and translational initiation and termination regulatory regions to allow for independent expression of the marker. If antibiotic resistance is employed as a marker, the concentration of the antibiotic for selection will vary depending upon the antibiotic, generally ranging from 10 to 600 μg of the antibiotic/mL of medium.

The expression construct is assembled by employing known recombinant DNA techniques (Sambrook et al., 1989; Ausubel et al., 1999). Restriction enzyme digestion and ligation are the basic steps employed to join two fragments of DNA. The ends of the DNA fragment may require modification prior to ligation, and this may be accomplished by filling in overhangs, deleting terminal portions of the fragment(s) with nucleases (e.g., ExoIII), site directed mutagenesis, or by adding new base pairs by PCR. Polylinkers and adaptors may be employed to facilitate joining of selected fragments. The expression construct is typically assembled in stages employing rounds of restriction, ligation, and transformation of E. coli. Numerous cloning vectors suitable for construction of the expression construct are known in the art (λZAP and pBLUESCRIPT SK-1, Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif., pET, Novagen Inc., Madison, Wis., cited in Ausubel et al., 1999) and the particular choice is not critical to the invention. The selection of cloning vector will be influenced by the gene transfer system selected for introduction of the expression construct into the host cell. At the end of each stage, the resulting construct may be analyzed by restriction, DNA sequence, hybridization and PCR analyses.

The expression construct may be transformed into the host as the cloning vector construct, either linear or circular, or may be removed from the cloning vector and used as is or introduced onto a delivery vector. The delivery vector facilitates the introduction and maintenance of the expression construct in the selected host cell type. The expression construct is introduced into the host cells by any of a number of known gene transfer systems (e.g., natural competence, chemically mediated transformation, protoplast transformation, electroporation, biolistic transformation, transfection, or conjugation) (Ausubel et al., 1999; Sambrook et al., 1989). The gene transfer system selected depends upon the host cells and vector systems used.

For instance, the expression construct can be introduced into S. cerevisiae cells by protoplast transformation or electroporation. Electroporation of S. cerevisiae is readily accomplished, and yields transformation efficiencies comparable to spheroplast transformation.

The present invention further provides a production process for isolating a fusion protein of interest. In the process, a host cell (e.g., a yeast, fungus, insect, bacterial or animal cell), into which has been introduced a nucleic acid encoding the protein of the interest operatively linked to a regulatory sequence, is grown at production scale in a culture medium to stimulate transcription of the nucleotides sequence encoding the fusion protein of interest. Subsequently, the fusion protein of interest is isolated from harvested host cells or from the culture medium. Standard protein purification techniques can be used to isolate the protein of interest from the medium or from the harvested cells. In particular, the purification techniques can be used to express and purify a desired fusion protein on a large-scale (i.e. in at least milligram quantities) from a variety of implementations including roller bottles, spinner flasks, tissue culture plates, bioreactor, or a fermentor.

An expressed protein fusion complex can be isolated and purified by known methods. Typically the culture medium is centrifuged or filtered and then the supernatant is purified by affinity or immunoaffinity chromatography, e.g. Protein-A or Protein-G affinity chromatography or an immunoaffinity protocol comprising use of monoclonal antibodies that bind the expressed fusion complex such as a linked TCR or immunoglobulin region thereof. The fusion proteins of the present invention can be separated and purified by appropriate combination of known techniques. These methods include, for example, methods utilizing solubility such as salt precipitation and solvent precipitation, methods utilizing the difference in molecular weight such as dialysis, ultra-filtration, gel-filtration, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, methods utilizing a difference in electrical charge such as ion-exchange column chromatography, methods utilizing specific affinity such as affinity chromatography, methods utilizing a difference in hydrophobicity such as reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and methods utilizing a difference in isoelectric point, such as isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, metal affinity columns such as Ni-NTA. See generally Sambrook et al. and Ausubel et al. supra for disclosure relating to these methods.

It is preferred that the fusion proteins of the present invention be substantially pure. That is, the fusion proteins have been isolated from cell substituents that naturally accompany it so that the fusion proteins are present preferably in at least 80% or 90% to 95% homogeneity (w/w). Fusion proteins having at least 98 to 99% homogeneity (w/w) are most preferred for many pharmaceutical, clinical and research applications. Once substantially purified the fusion protein should be substantially free of contaminants for therapeutic applications. Once purified partially or to substantial purity, the soluble fusion proteins can be used therapeutically, or in performing in vitro or in vivo assays as disclosed herein. Substantial purity can be determined by a variety of standard techniques such as chromatography and gel electrophoresis.

Soluble TCR fusion complexes of the invention contain TCR domains that is sufficiently truncated so the TCR fusion complex can be secreted into culture medium after expression. Thus, a truncated TCR fusion complex will not include regions rich in hydrophobic residues, typically the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the TCR molecule. Thus, for example, for a preferred truncated TCR molecule of the invention, preferably from about the final cysteine to the C-terminal residue of the β chain and from about the final cysteine to the C-terminal residue of the α chain of the TCR molecule are not included in the truncated TCR fusion complex.

The present fusion protein complexes are suitable for in vitro or in vivo use with a variety of cells that are cancerous or are infected or that may become infected by one or more diseases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Human interleukin-15 (hIL-15) is trans-presented to immune effector cells by the human IL-15 receptor a chain (hIL-15Rα) expressed on antigen presenting cells. IL-15Rα binds hIL-15 with high affinity (38 pM) mainly through the extracellular sushi domain (hIL-15RαSu). Here we demonstrate that the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu domains can be used as a scaffold to construct multi-domain fusion complexes. Both bivalent and bispecific T cell receptor (TCR) fusion complexes were formed using this scaffold through the combination of various single-chain (sc) TCR domains fused to the N-termini of the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu chains. In these fusions, the scTCR domains retain the antigen binding activity and the hIL-15 domain exhibits receptor binding and biological activity. Bivalent scTCR fusions exhibited improved antigen binding capacity due to increased molecular binding avidity whereas fusions comprising two different scTCR domains were capable of binding two cognate peptide/MHC complexes. Bispecific molecules containing scTCR and scCD8αβ domains also exhibit significantly better binding to cognate peptide/MHC complex than either the bivalent or monovalent scTCR molecules, demonstrating that the IL-15:IL-15Rα scaffold exhibits flexibility necessary to support multi-domain interactions with given target. Surprisingly, functional TCRs could also be formed by co-expressing the TCR α and β chains separately as fusions to the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu domains. Finally we show that the fused hIL-15 domain can be manipulated through site-specific mutations to provide superagonist or antagonist cytokine activity. Together, these properties indicate that the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu domains can be used as versatile, functional scaffold for generating novel targeted immune molecules.

IgG domains, particularly the Fc fragment, have been used successfully as dimeric scaffolds for a number of therapeutic molecules including approved biologic drugs. For example, etanercept is a dimer of soluble human p75 tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) receptor (sTNFR) linked to the Fc domain of human IgG1. This dimerization allows etanercept to be up to 1,000 times more potent at inhibiting TNF-α activity than the monomeric sTNFR and provides the fusion with a five-fold longer serum half-life than the monomeric form. As a result, etanercept is effective at neutralization of the pro-inflammatory activity of TNF-α in vivo and improving patient outcomes for a number of different autoimmune indications.

In addition to its dimerization activity, the Fc fragment also provides cytotoxic effector functions through the complement activation and interaction with Fcγ receptors displayed on natural killer (NK) cells, neutrophils, phagocytes and dendritic cells. In the context of anti-cancer therapeutic antibodies and other antibody domain-Fc fusion proteins, these activities likely play an important role in efficacy observed in animal tumor models and in cancer patients. However these cytotoxic effector responses may not be sufficient in a number of therapeutic applications. Thus, there has been considerable interest in improving and expanding on the effector activity of the Fc domain and developing other means of recruiting cytolytic immune responses, including T cell activity, to the disease site via targeted therapeutic molecules. IgG domains have been used as a scaffold to form bispecific antibodies to improve the quality and quantity of products generated by the traditional hybridoma fusion technology. Although these methods bypass the shortcomings of other scaffolds, it has been difficult to produce bispecific antibodies in mammalian cells at levels sufficient to support clinical development and use.

In an effort to develop a new, human-derived immunostimulatory multimeric scaffold, we focused on the use of human IL-15 (hIL-15) and IL-15 receptor domains. hIL-15 is a member of the small four α-helix bundle family of cytokines that associates with the hIL-15 receptor α-chain (hIL-15Rα) with a high binding affinity (Equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) ˜10⁻¹¹ M). The resulting complex is then trans-presented to the human IL-2/15 receptor β/common γ chain (hIL-15RβγC) complexes displayed on the surface of T cells and NK cells. This cytokine/receptor interaction results in expansion and activation of effector T cells and NK cells, which play an important role in eradicating virally infected and malignant cells. Normally, hIL-15 and hIL-15Rα are co-produced in dendritic cells to form complexes intracellularly that are subsequently secreted and displayed as heterodimeric molecules on cell surfaces. Thus, the characteristics of hIL-15 and hIL-15Rα interactions suggest that these inter chain binding domains could serve as a novel, human-derived immunostimulatory scaffold to make soluble dimeric molecules capable of target-specific binding. Herein, we describe the generation and characterization of a number of fusion proteins comprising T cell receptor (TCR) and CD8 binding domains to demonstrate the feasibility of using hIL-15:hIL-15Rα scaffold to create both soluble homodimers with increased functional binding affinity toward target antigens and heterodimers for multiple-site-specific protein complexes. We also show that these fusion proteins retain potent hIL-15 activity capable of stimulating immune effector cell responses.

Herein, we demonstrate the potential uses of a hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu-based scaffold to create novel, dimeric molecules. The dimeric fusion protein complexes retained immunostimulatory and target-specific biological activity of their hIL-15 domains and binding domains, indicating that the addition of hIL-15 and hIL-15Rα did not significantly alter the spatial arrangement of the fusion domains and provided an adequate degree of conformational flexibility without impacting cytokine activity. Thus, this scaffold could be used to form multivalent fusion complexes, such as the c264scTCR dimer, to increase the overall binding affinity of molecules, or bispecific molecules, such as the c264scTCR/c149scTCR heterodimer. In all cases, the soluble fusion proteins were produced at relatively high levels in recombinant CHO cell culture (mgs per liter in cell culture supernatant without extensive cell line screening or optimization) and could be readily purified from the cell culture supernatants. We also demonstrated that the utility of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu-based scaffold could be expanded to create soluble, biologically active, two-chain molecules, such as α/β TCRs, by fusing the extracellular domains of the two polypeptide chains to the N-termini of hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu. This format resulted in a moderate decrease in hIL-15 activity, possibly due to steric hindrance between the interfolded TCR α/β chains fused to the distal N-termini of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu complex and the hIL-15RβγC binding site located in the middle of the complex. Other formats are possible and can be generated using routine methods.

The hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu-based scaffold was also used to generate an OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer in which the CD8 α/β and TCR domains are capable of binding the same pMHCI complex but at a spatially distinct sites. Previous studies using soluble pMHCI reagents have determined that CD8 stabilizes and enhances TCR:pMHCI interactions at the cell surface through effects on both the off-rate and the on-rate. This effect is important in determining the dependency of the T cells on CD8 co-receptor activity, such that the requirement for CD8 for pMHCI-specific T cell activation is inversely correlated with TCR:pMHCI affinity. However, several binding studies using soluble purified CD8 α/β, TCR and pMHCI proteins have shown that TCR:pMHCI interactions are not affected by the presence or absence of CD8, suggesting no cooperative binding effects.

The results of our cell-based and SPR binding studies with the OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer are in contrast with these earlier reports in showing that TCR and CD8 domains displayed on the same soluble molecule exhibited much better peptide/MHC binding activity than was observed with molecules carrying monovalent or divalent TCR domains. This effect is reflected in both a slower off-rate and faster on-rate of the pMHCI:OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer complex, consistent with the observations for pMHCI binding to CD8 and TCR molecules on T cells. Thus, the OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer mimics binding of the OT1 TCR on T cells, which exhibits a strong dependence of CD8 coreceptor activity for pMHC interactions. These results indicate that the scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer and variants of this molecule could serve as very useful tools for further dissecting molecular interactions between the tertiary TCR:pMHCI:CD8 complex in a cell-free system. In addition, scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer-based reagents with enhanced pMHCI binding activity could have utility in detecting antigen presentation on diseased cells, without the need of mutating the TCR domain for increased binding affinity.

The results of our SPR experiments on the OT1scTCR fusions differ from those reported by Alam et al. where the binding affinity of monovalent OT1 TCRα/β heterodimer to immobilized OVA peptide/H-2 Kb complex was shown to be approximately 6 μM. In our studies, we were unable to detect OVA peptide/H-2 Kb-binding of the OT1scTCR/birA monomer and the OT1scTCR/birA dimer exhibited an apparent KD of 30 μM. It is possible that the OT1 TCR lost binding activity when formatted as a single-chain Vα-linker-Vβ-Cβ molecule. However, we observed equivalent activity when comparing OT1scTCR/birA and a two-chain construct. Moreover, previous studies have shown that OVA peptide/H-2 Kb tetramers with Kb mutations that abrogate CD8 binding exhibit little or no specific binding activity to OT1 TCR-bearing cells even when high concentrations of tetramers were used, suggesting very low affinity interactions between OT1 TCR and its cognate pMHCI. In contrast, OVA peptide/H-2 Kb tetramers without the CD8 binding mutations were able to brightly stain OT1 TCR-bearing cells, consistent with the ability of CD8 to enhance OT1 TCR binding activity observed in this study.

The hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu-based scaffold can be exploited much like the Fc domain of the IgG scaffold to generate multivalent or multispecific targeted therapeutics. With its potent activity for stimulating proliferation and activation of effector NK and CD8⁺ memory T cells, the hIL-15 domain expands the scope of potential immunotherapeutic mechanisms beyond antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement activation associated with IgG-based approaches. Using approaches similar to those used to manipulate the activity of the Fc domain of IgG molecules, we demonstrate that the IL-15 domain can be mutated to increase or decrease its functional activity. We show that hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu fusion molecule containing an N72D mutation in the IL-15 domain exhibit a 3-4 fold increase in biological activity, whereas IL-15 D8N mutation exhibit little or no activity. While IL-15 superagonist-based fusion proteins could serve as targeted immunotherapeutics for cancer and infectious diseases, an IL-15 antagonist capable of inhibiting IL-15 responsive cells at the disease site may have therapeutic potential in treating allograft rejection and inflammatory autoimmune diseases, particularly if memory CD8 T cells play a role in disease pathology. A non-targeted IL-15 mutant/Fcγ2a antagonist protein has already been shown to be effective at inhibiting islet and cardiac allograft rejection and preventing development and progression of arthritis in experimental animal models. Similar approaches with IL-15 antagonist domains in the context of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu fusion proteins are possible. In addition, under certain circumstances, it may desirable to have a functionally inert scaffold for generation of multimeric molecules. For example, we have found that scTCR/hIL-15:scTCR/hIL-15RαSu fusions containing an IL-15 D8N mutation, which eliminates interactions with IL-15Rβγ, provide better TCR antigen-specific staining of cells displaying IL-15 receptor complex.

Although we have focused on TCRs and CD8 molecules as targeting domains for demonstration purposes herein, it is understood that the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold could be used to construct other novel molecules with protein domains derived from antibodies, adhesion molecules, or other receptors. It is also possible to create protein domain fusions to the C-termini of the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu which, based on the crystal structure, are accessible for modification. The resulting molecules can contain up to four different target-recognition capabilities. With the appropriate fusion partners, these types of molecules can promote the conjugation of immune effectors cells and target cells and achieve effective killing of target cells. In addition, the IL-15 domain of the complex can further augment these processes by providing immunostimulatory activity to support effector cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. A variety of multi-functional molecules based on this concept for use as anti-cancer and anti-viral immunotherapeutic agents.

Previously, the poor expression level in standard mammalian cell system limited the development of recombinant hIL-15 as a therapeutic. As demonstrated herein, expression of scTCR/hIL-15:scTCR/hIL-15RαSu complexes at levels capable of supporting clinical development and potentially product commercialization can be achieved. In addition, it has been shown that the IL-15Rα chain enhances the in vivo activity of hIL-15, without being bound by mechanism, possibly by improving the pharmacokinetics of the cytokine. These two characteristics of hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu complexes, in combination with its multivalent nature and/or multispecific targeting design, provides an opportunity to capture the full potential of hIL-15 as an immunotherapeutic agent against cancer and viral infections.

As provided in the Examples, hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu fusion protein complexes comprising immunoglobulin Fc domains were found to have additional advantages. Association of the Fc domains allows generation of multichain molecules capable of multivalent and multispecific interactions. In fact, the fusion protein complexes of the invention comprising the multiple domains of the same scTCR exhibited enhanced antigen binding activity than that expected based on the activity of the dimeric scTCR fusion. In some cases, the fusion complex of the invention is capable of binding and activating both IL-15RβγC-bearing immune cells and Fc receptor-bearing immune cells, allowing for potent immune stimulatory activity. The protein fusion complex of the invention comprising two IL-15 domains was found to exhibited better IL-15 activity than that expected when compared to other IL-15 fusion proteins. Additionally, the protein fusion complex of the invention was more effective at mediating antibody Fc depended cellular cytotoxicity against peptide/MHC presenting target cells than the TCR-IgG1 fusion protein. The improved activity may have been the result of enhanced binding of the protein fusion complexes to the peptide/MHC complex and/or increase reactivity to the effector cells displaying Fc receptors or IL-15 receptors. Moreover, through mutagenesis analysis it was found that of each of the TCR, IL-15 and IgG Fc domains of the fusion protein complexes could be readily and independently manipulated to alter its binding and functional activity to provide a multispecific complex with the desired biological effects.

The fusion protein complexes of the invention were demonstrated to have a significantly better pharmacokinetic profile in mammals than free IL-15. In addition, based on the similar PK profile observed with different methods of analysis, the fusion protein complexes remains intact in vivo as a multichain molecule with no evidence of polypeptide chain cleavage or dissociation. Additionally, the fusion protein complexes of the invention are shown to be capable of mediating antitumor activity against both target bearing and non-target bearing tumors in animals and exhibited more potent antitumor efficacy than rhIL-15 administered at an equivalent molar dose. Moreover, treatment with effective doses of the fusion proteins was well tolerated in these animal models.

EXAMPLE 1 Construction of Expression Vectors Containing c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi-huIgG1 and c149scTCR/huIL15N72D Gene Fusions

The fusion protein referred to as the T2 molecule (T2M) consists of a multichain polypeptide (FIG. 1). In one embodiment of the invention, one of these polypeptides comprises a fusion between a protein-binding domain and IL-15 (or IL-15 variants) as disclosed in WO2008143794 (incorporated herein by reference). A second polypeptide of T2 comprises a fusion between a protein binding domain, an IL-15Rα domain and an immunoglobulin domain. Alternatively, the protein binding domain-IL-15 fusion protein can be further linked to an immunoglobulin domain. The preferred immunoglobulin domains comprise regions that allow interaction with other immunoglobulin domains to form multichain proteins. For example, the immunoglobulin heavy chain regions, such as the IgG1 C_(H)2-C_(H)3, are capable of interacting to create the Fc region. Preferred immunoglobulin domains also comprise regions with effector functions, including Fc receptor or complement protein binding activity, and/or with glycosylation sites. In some embodiments, the immunoglobulin domains of the T2 molecule contain mutations that reduce or augment Fc receptor or complement binding activity or glycosylation, thereby affecting the biological activity of the resulting protein. For example, immunoglobulin domains containing mutations that reduce binding to Fc receptors could be used to generate T2 molecules with lower binding activity to Fc receptor-bearing cells, which may be advantageous for reagents designed to recognize or detect TCR-specific antigens.

Construction of an expression vector containing the p53 (aa 264-272) single-chain TCR (referred to a c264scTCR) fused to human IL-15Rα sushi domain (huIL15RαSushi) and human IgG1 constant regions (huIgG1 C_(H)1-C_(H)2-C_(H)3) was carried out as follows. The c264scTCR/huIgG1 gene fragment was removed from the previous constructed the pNEF38-c264scTCR/huIgG1 vector by restricted digestion with PacI and MluI. The gene fragment was gel-purified and ligated to pMSGV vector digested with the same restriction enzymes, resulted in the construct called as pMSGV-c264scTCR/huIgG1. A DNA fragment containing the CMV promoter was purified from pcDNA3.1 following digestion with NruI and HindIII. This fragment was ligated into pMSGV-c264scTCR/huIgG1 which had been digested with PacI and filled in with DNA polymerase to create blunt ends and then digested with HindIII. The resulting construct was named as pMC-c264scTCR/huIgG1. A huIL15RαSushi gene fragment from a previous constructed, pNEF38-c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi (see WO2008143794), was amplified with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 6) 5′-TGTTGGGAATTCATCACGTGCCCTC-3′ and back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 7) 5′-TGGTGTGAATTCTCTAATGCATTTGAGACTGG-3′ by KOD Hot Start DNA Polymerase (EMD) under following PCR conditions: 95 C, 2 min, 1 cycle; 95 C, 20 sec, 65 C, 20 sec; 70 C, 20 sec, 35 cycles; 72 C, 10 min, 1 cycle. The PCR product of human ID15RαSushi gene was gel-purified and digested with EcoRI. The gene was ligated into pMC-c264scTCR/huIgG1 which had been digested with EcoRI. Cloning of the DNA fragment encoding the human IL15RαSushi domain into the pMC-c264scTCR/huIgG1resulted in a c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi-huIgG1 fusion gene comprising the following sequence: 3′-immunoglobulin heavy chain leader—264 TCR V-α—peptide linker—264 TCR V-β—human TCR C-β—human IL15RαSushi—human IgG1 heavy chain. The resulting vector (pMC.c264scTCR-SuIgG1.PUR), shown in FIG. 2, containing the correct human IL15RαSushi gene insert was identified based on the diagnostic PCR and reconfirmed by DNA sequencing. The sequences of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 gene and protein are shown at FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B and FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C, respectively.

A different expression vector containing c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi-huIgG1 gene fusion was constructed that lacked the internal EcoRI sites (and corresponding coding sequences). For this vector, a portion of the c264scTCR gene fragment was amplified from the c264scTCR/huIgG1 vector with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 8) 5′GTACGACTTAATTAACTCGAGCCACCATGGAGACAGACACACTCCTGTT ATGG3′ and back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 9) 5′CTTCCCGTTAACCCACCAGCTCAGCTCCACGTG3′.

The remainder of the TCR β constant region of the c264scTCR gene fragment was amplified from c264scTCR/huIgG1 vector with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′CTGGTGGGTTAACGGGAAGGAGGTGCACAGTGGGGTC3′ and back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 11) 5′GAGGGCACGTGATGTCTGCTCTACCCCAGGCCTC3′

The huIL15RαSushi gene fragment was amplified from the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi vector with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 12) 5′GTAGAGCAGACATCACGTGCCCTCCCCCCATG3′ and the back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) 5′CCTTGGTGCTAGCTCTAATACATTTGAGACTGGGGGTTGTCC3′.

The huIgG1 heavy chain constant region gene fragment was amplified from the c264scTCR/huIgG1 vector with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 14) 5′CCAGTCTCAAATGTATTAGAGCTAGCACCAAGGGCCCATCGGTC3′ and back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 15) 5′GTAATATTCTAGACGCGTTCATTATTTACCAGGAGACAGGGAGAGGCTC TTC3′.

The resulting products containing the TCR β constant region sequence and huIL15RαSushi gene were used as templates to generate a gene fragment by PCR using with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′CTGGTGGGTTAACGGGAAGGAGGTGCACAGTGGGGTC3′ and back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) 5′CCTTGGTGCTAGCTCTAATACATTTGAGACTGGGGGTTGTCC3′

The resulting PCR product and the huIgG1 gene fragment served as templates to generate a TCRβc/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 fusion gene by PCR with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′CTGGTGGGTTAACGGGAAGGAGGTGCACAGTGGGGTC3′ and back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 15) 5′GTAATATTCTAGACGCGTTCATTATTTACCAGGAGACAGGGAGAGGCTC TTC3′

The c264scTCR PCR product was digested with PacI and HpaI and the TCRβc/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 fusion gene was digested with HpaI and NsiI. The digested gene fragments were ligated into a CMV promoter-containing pMSGV retrovirus vector. The resulting vector was designated as c264scTCR/Sushi/hIgG1-pMSGVc or pMSGVc264SuIg (FIG. 5). The sequences of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 gene and protein are shown at FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B and FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B, and FIG. 7C, respectively.

Generation of expression vectors producing a fusion between single-chain TCR binding domain (i.e. c264scTCR) and IL-15 (or IL-15 variants) has been disclosed in WO2008143794. Particularly useful IL-15 variants are those that reduce or eliminate IL-15 biological activity or that increase IL-15 biological activity. For example, human IL-15 variants with substitutions at position 72 (i.e. N72D substitution) can increase the IL-15 biological activity 5 to 10 fold. IL-15 variants are provided in the table below:

IL15Rβγc Prolif- Mu- receptor IL15Rα eration tants Position 8 61 65 72 108 binding binding Activity WT aa D D N N Q + + + 1  8 N − + − 2  8 A − + − 3 61 A − + − 4 65 D − + − 5 65 A − + − 6 72 D 3+ + 3+ 8 72 R − + − 9 108  A − + − 10 8 + 65  N A − + − 11 8 + 108 A A − + − 12 8 + 65  S R − + −

The fusion protein complexes comprising IL-15 variants as described in the table immediately above were characterized for their ability to bind the TCR-specific antigen, p53 (aa264-272)/HLA-A2.1. To generate cells presenting p53 (aa264-272)/HLA-A2.1, HLA-A2.1-positive T2 cells (2×10⁶/mL) were loaded with 20 μM p53 (aa264-272) peptide at 37° C. in the presence of 1×PLE (Altor Bioscience) for 2-3 hrs. T2 cells that were not incubated with peptide and 32Dβ cells expressing IL-2/15Rβγ_(C) serve as controls. The p53 peptide-loaded T2 cells, control T2 cells, or 32Dβ cells (2×10⁵/100 μL) were then incubated for 30 min at 4 C with 320 nM of following dimeric fusion protein complexes: 1) c264scTCR/huIL15+c264scTCR/huIL15Rα Sushi, 2) c264scTCR/huIL15D8A+c264scTCR/huIL15Rα Sushi, and 3) c264scTCR/huIL15D8N+c264scTCR/huIL15Rα Sushi. These complexes were generated by incubating 160 nM of purified c264scTCRhuIL15 fusion protein and 160 nM of purified c264scTCRhuIL15Rα Sushi fusion protein at 4 C for 3 hours. Following staining, cells were washed once with washing buffer (PBS containing 0.5% BSA and 0.05% sodium azide) and stained with 0.5 μg of biotinylated mouse monoclonal anti-human TCR Cβ antibody (BF1) in 100 μL of washing buffer for 30 min at 4 C. Cells were washed once and stained with 0.5 μ.g of R-Phycoerythrin conjugated streptavidin in 100 μL of washing buffer for 30 min at 4 C. Cells were washed and resuspended for analysis by flow cytometry.

The c264scTCR/huIL15D8A+c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi complex and c264scTCR/huIL15D8N+c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi complex exhibited equivalent activity as the c264scTCR/huIL15+c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi complex for specifically staining p53 peptide-loaded T2 cells. These results indicate that the multivalent scTCR domains are fully functional in each of these fusion complexes. Fusion protein complexes comprising IL-15 variants (D8A and D8N) do not show binding activity to the IL-15Rβγ_(c) receptors present on the 32Dβ cells. Similar studies of IL-15Rβγ_(c), receptor binding were carried out with other fusion proteins comprising IL-15 variants and are summarized in Table 1. The results indicate that fusion proteins and fusion protein complexes of the invention comprising IL-15 variants retain activity to recognize peptide/MHC complexes and exhibit decreased or increased binding activity for IL-15Rβγ_(c), receptors.

For certain T2 molecules, it is useful to have multiple different binding domains fused to the IL-15 and IL-15Rα components. In one example to illustrate the activity of such molecules, a single-chain TCR domain (called c149scTCR), specific to the p53 (aa 149-157) peptide presented in the context of HLA-A2, was linked to the IL-15N72D domain and the resulting fusion protein co-expressed with the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 fusion protein to produce a multichain T2 protein with c264scTCR and c149scTCR binding domains.

To generate the c149scTCR/IL15N72D gene fusion, a c149scTCR gene fragment (TCR- α, linker, TCRβ and TCR-β constant fragment) was amplified from c149scTCR/hulgG1 expression vector with the front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 16) 5′GACTTCAAGCTTAATTAAGCCACCATGGACAGACTTACTTCTTC3′

and the back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 9) 5′-CTTCCCGTTAACCCACCAGCTCAGCTCCACGTG-3′

The remainder of the TCR β constant region of the c149scTCR/hulgG1 vector was amplified with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′CTGGTGGGTTAACGGGAAGGAGGTGCACAGTGGGGTC3′

and the back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 17) 5′CACCCAGTTGTCTGCTCTACCCCAGGCCTC3′

The huIL15N72D gene was amplified from c264scTCR/ huIL15N72D expression vector with the front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 18) 5′CTGGGGTAGAGCAGACAACTGGGTGAATGTAATAAGTGATTTG3′

and the back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 19) 5′CCTCATGCATTCGAATCCGGATCATTAAGAAGTGTTGATGAA CATTTGG3′

The resulting products containing the TCR β constant region sequence and huIL15N72D gene were used as templates to generate a gene fragment by PCR using with front primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′CTGGTGGGTTAACGGGAAGGAGGTGCACAGTGGGGTC3′

and the back primer:

(SEQ ID NO: 19) 5′CCTCATGCATTCGAATCCGGATCATTAAGAAGTGTTGATGAACA TTTGG3′

The c149scTCR PCR product was digested with Pac I and Hpa I and the TCRβc/huIL15N72D PCR product was digested with Hpa I and BstB I. The digested gene fragments were ligated into a CMV promoter-containing pMSGV retrovirus vector. The resulting vector was designated as c149scTCR/IL15N72D-pMSGVn or pMSGV-c149IL15N72D (FIG. 8). The sequences of the c149scTCR/huIL15N72D gene and protein are shown at FIG. 9 and FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, respectively.

EXAMPLE 2 Generation of Transfected Host Cell Lines Producing Fusion Proteins

The expression vectors can be introduced into a variety of host cell lines by several different transformation, transfection or transduction methods. In one such method, CHO-K1 cells (5×10⁵) were seeded in a 6-well plate and cultured overnight in a CO₂ incubator. The cells were transfected with 5 μg of expression vector containing the c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion genes using 10 μL of Minis TransIT-LT1 reagent (Mirus) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The cells were selected with 4 mg/mL of G418 (Invitrogen) one day after the transfection. The G418 resistant cells were expanded and TCR/IL15 fusion protein expressing cells were subcloned three times by the limiting dilution and production cell lines were screened based on the level of soluble fusion protein secreted into the culture media by TCR and huIL15-specific ELISA with a capture antibody, anti-human TCR Cβ antibody (BF1), and a detection antibody, biotinylated anti-human IL-15 antibody (BAM 247, R&D Systems) described previously (see WO2008143794). The c264scTCR/IL15N72D producing cell line was then transducted with the pseudotyped retroviral vector containing c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi-huIgG1 fusion gene as follows.

To produce the pseudotyped retroviral vector, 2×10⁶ of the 293GP packaging cells in a poly-lysine coated 10 cm dish (BD Bioscience) were cultured for 2 days at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator. The cells were then co-transfected using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) with 9 μg of the plasmid pMC-c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and 4 μg of the plasmid pMD-G encoding VSV-G envelope protein. The supernatant containing virus was collected 48 hrs post-transfection and cell debris was removed by passing through a 0.45 μM polyvinylidene fluoride filter. Virus was applied to the c264scTCR/IL15N72D producing cells (1×10⁵ cells/well in a 6-well plate) in the presence of 10 μg/ml of polybrene (Sigma-Aldrich). Cells were selected with 10 μg/ml of puromycin and 2 mg/ml of G418 2 days post-transduction. The puromycin and G418 resistant cells were expanded and the T2 fusion protein complex expressing cells were subcloned three times by the limiting dilution and production cell lines were screened based on the level of soluble fusion protein secreted into the culture media using a huIgG1/huIL15-specific ELISA with a capture antibody, anti-human IgG antibody (Jackson ImmunoResearch), and a detection antibody, biotinylated anti-human IL-15 antibody (BAM 247, R&D Systems).

EXAMPLE 3 Generation and Purification of T2 Fusion Proteins

Cell lines expressing c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 were cultured under growth conditions (i.e. 25-37° C. for 5 to 28 days in small scale culture flasks, spinner or shaker flasks or in large scale hollow-fiber, wave bag or stir tank bioreactors or equivalent culture vessels and reactors) to produce the T2 molecule as a soluble protein in the culture media. To purify the T2 molecule the culture media was pH-adjusted and loaded on to an immunoaffinity column containing an anti-TCR antibody (BF1) covalently coupled to Sepharose. The column was washed and T2 molecules eluted with 0.5 M Na-citrate pH 4.0. The eluted protein was concentrated and buffer exchanged into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and then loaded on rProtein A-Sepharose column. Following wash steps, the protein was eluted with 0.5 M Na-citrate pH 4.0 and then buffer exchanged into PBS. The resulting protein was characterized by Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE and size exclusion chromatography.

Under reducing SDS-PAGE conditions, the purified T2 protein migrated as two polypeptide bands corresponding to the molecular weights expected of the c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 components compared to purified c264scTCR/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIgG1ΔCH1 fusion proteins which migrate a single bands expected of homodimeric molecules (FIG. 11). Under non-reducing denaturing conditions, the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 band migrates at a molecular weight consistent with a dimeric polypeptide whereas the c264scTCR/huIL15N72D band is consistent with its monomeric form (FIG. 11). By size exclusion gel filtration chromatography, the native T2 protein eluted at the expected molecular weight of a four-chain (2×c264scTCR/IL15N72D, 2×c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1) molecule (FIG. 12). These results confirm that the T2 molecule exhibits a multichain conformation consistent with the interactions between the huIL15N72D and huIL15RαSushi domains and covalent interactions between the huIgG1 as shown in FIG. 1.

Similar mammalian cell expression and affinity chromatography purification methods were used to generate other T2 protein complexes described herein.

EXAMPLE 4 In Vitro Characterization of the Binding Activities of the T2 Molecule

In vitro assays were carried out to characterize the binding activities of the domains of the T2 molecule and to compare these activities with those of other fusion molecules. To characterize the IgG1 domain, microtiter wells were coated with anti-human IgG1 antibody and equivalent molar amounts of purified T2 protein, composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, or purified c264scTCR/huIgG1 fusion protein were applied to the wells. Following binding and washing steps, the bound proteins were detected with anti-human IgG1 antibody under standard ELISA conditions.

The results of the assay shown in FIG. 13 demonstrate that the IgG1 domain of the T2 molecule shows equivalent antibody binding activity as the comparable domain of the TCR/IgG1 fusion, indicating that the T2 IgG1 domain retains a native conformation. The TCR domain of the T2 molecule was assessed in a similar assay. Equivalent molar amounts of T2 or c264scTCR/huIgG1 proteins were captured on anti-human IgG1 Ab coated wells and detected with an anti-human TCR Cβ antibody (W4F).

As shown in FIG. 14, the T2 protein exhibited 2-fold higher reactivity than the c264scTCR/huIgG1 protein to the anti-TCR antibody. This is expected given the four-chain TCR fusion protein composition of the T2 molecule compared with the homodimeric composition of the c264scTCR/huIgG1 fusion. The peptide/MHC binding activity of the TCR domains of the T2 molecule was assessed. Equivalent molar amounts of T2 (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) or c264scTCR/huIgG1 proteins were captured on anti-human IgG1 Ab coated wells and detected with p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 streptavidin-HRP tetramers. As shown in FIG. 15, the T2 protein exhibited 3-fold higher binding activity than the c264scTCR/huIgG1 protein to the peptide/MHC reagent. This was unexpected since based on its structure and anti-TCR Ab reactivity (see FIG. 14) the T2 protein was anticipated to only exhibit 2-fold higher TCR binding activity than c264scTCR/huIgG1. Thus the T2 molecular structure provides a better antigen-specific binding activity than expected based on the individual components. This enhanced binding activity may be the result of less steric interference, better avidity effects, cooperative interactions and/or a better conformational fit between the TCR domain and peptide/MHC antigen.

EXAMPLE 5 Characterization of the Biological Activity of the T2 IL-15 Domain

The activity of the IL-15 domain of the T2 molecule was also assessed. Microtiter wells were coated with anti-human IL-15 antibody and equivalent molar amounts of purified T2 protein, composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, or purified c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion protein were applied to the wells. Following binding and washing steps, the bound proteins were detected with anti-human IL-15 antibody under standard ELISA conditions.

As shown in FIG. 16, the T2 protein exhibited increased reactivity (1.6-fold higher) compared to c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion for the anti-IL15 Ab, as expected based on hypothesis that each T2 molecule contains two IL-15 domains. The biological activity of the IL-15 domain of the T2 molecules was further characterized in proliferation assays using the cytokine-dependent 32Dβ cell line. To measure cell proliferation, 32Dβ cells (2×10⁴ cells/well) were incubated with increasing concentrations of T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) or c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion protein for 48 h at 37° C. Cell proliferation reagent WST-1 (Roche Applied Science) was added during the last 4 h of cell growth according to the manufacturer's procedures. Conversion of WST-1 to the colored formazan dye by metabolically active cells was determined through absorbance measurements at 440 nm.

As shown in FIG. 17, the T2 protein exhibits 3-fold better biological activity than the c264scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion protein. This was unexpected since based on its structure and anti-IL-15 Ab reactivity (see FIG. 16), the T2 protein was anticipated to only exhibit 2-fold higher IL-15 activity than c264scTCR/huIL15N72D. Together these results illustrate a number of advantages to the T2 molecular format in providing increased TCR binding activity and IL-15 biological activity than was not observed with these components alone or in the context of other fusion protein formats.

The ability of the T2 protein to promote proliferation of IL-15-responsive immune cells was examined in a primate model. Cynomolgus monkeys (n=2, 1m, 1f) were injected intravenously with purified T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) at 0.5 mg/kg. Blood collected 5 days later was stained for CD8 memory T cells markers (CD8 and CD95) and NK cell markers (CD56 and CD16) and compared to blood taken prior to treatment. As shown in FIG. 18, T2 treatment resulted in an expansion of CD8⁺ CD95⁺ memory T cells (A) and CD56^(dim) CD16⁺ effector NK cells (B). These results are consistent with the T2 molecule displaying potent IL-15 activity in vivo.

EXAMPLE 6 Characterization of the Binding and Biological Activity of the T2 Fc Domain

The binding activity of the IgG1 Fc domain of the T2 molecule was characterized in cell binding assays. Fc-gamma receptor bearing U937 cells were incubated with 33 nM of T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains), c264scTCR/huIgG1 or A2AL9scTCR/IgG1 (negative control) for 20 min. Cells were washed once and incubated with PE-conjugated p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 tetramer for 20 min. The binding to Fc gamma receptors on U937 cell surface was analyzed with flow cytometry as shown in FIG. 19A. Similar U937 binding studies using a range of protein concentrations was also carried out and the mean fluorescent intensity for the stained cells was plotted in FIG. 19B.

The results of these studies indicate that the U937 cells are stained more effectively with the T2 molecules than the corresponding c264scTCR/huIgG1 fusion proteins, verifying the Fc receptor binding activity of the T2 molecules. To assess the biological activity of the Fc domains, the ability of the T2 molecule to mediate antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity was assessed. In this study, T2 protein, c264scTCR/huIgG1 or A2AL9scTCR/IgG1 (negative control) were added to a 96-well plate at 0.137 to 100 nM. HLA-A2-positive T2 target cells were pulsed with 10 μM of p53 aa264-272 peptide and labeled with 50 ug/ml of Calcein-AM. The fusion proteins were mixed with 1×10⁴ of the target cell per well and 1×10⁶/well of fresh human PBMC were added. The plate was incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator for 2 hrs and 100 μl of the conditional medium were collected and analyzed for Calcein released from lysed cells. Calcein was quantitated with a fluorescence reader at Ex-485 nm, Em-538 nm, and Cutoff-530 nm. The specific cell lysis is calculated with the following formula: Specific Lysis=[exp-(background-auto release)]/[Complete release-(background-auto release)]×100%. Exp=fusion protein+T2 cells+PBMC; Background=medium only; Auto release=T2 cells only; Complete release=T2 cells+0.5% Triton X-100.

The results of triplicate determinations per data point are shown in FIG. 20 where two different lots of the T2 proteins were characterized. The results indicate that the T2 protein was more effective at mediating ADCC-like activity against peptide/MHC presenting target cells than the TCR-IgG1 fusion protein. The improved activity may have been the result of enhanced binding of the T2 molecules to the peptide/MHC complex and/or increase reactivity to the effector cells displaying Fc receptors or IL-15 receptors.

EXAMPLE 7 Characterization of T2 Molecule Binding to Peptide/MHC Complexes Displayed on Cells

To assess the binding activity of T2 protein to peptide/MHC targets on cells, HLA-A2-positive T2 cells were pulsed with various amounts of p53 aa264-272 peptide. The cells were then incubated with T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains), c264scTCR/huIgG1 or A2AL9scTCR/IgG1 (negative control), each at 83 nM. The cells were incubated with biotinylated anti-TCR Ab (BF1) and streptavidin-PE. The cell were then analyzed by flow cytometry as shown in FIG. 21A. The mean fluorescent intensity for the stained cells was plotted in FIG. 21B.

The results show that the T2 molecules exhibit enhanced ability to detect p53 peptide/HLA-A2 complexes on cells compared to the c264scTCR/huIgG1 fusion protein. These results indicate that the T2 protein is capable of binding more effectively than c264scTCR/huIgG1 fusions to tumor-associated peptide antigens on target cells.

Similar results are expected using T2 molecules comprising TCR domains specific to other peptide/MHC targets. For example, various peptides derived from the human tumor associated proteins; p53, gp100, MART1, MAGE-A3, PSMA, PSA, Her2/neu, hTERT, tyrosinase, survivin, WT1, PR1, NY-ESO1, EGFR, BRAF and others, are known to bind HLA molecules and be targets for human T cell responses via TCR interactions. Additionally, TCRs specific to HLA complexes displaying viral peptide antigens from HIV, HCV, HBC, CMV, HTLV, HPV, EBV and other virus have been identified. These TCR could be fused to the IL-15 or huIL15RαSushi proteins and characterized for peptide/MHC reactivity on the appropriate peptide loaded antigen presenting cells as described above.

EXAMPLE 8 Characterization of T2 Molecules Bearing Two Different TCR Domains

As indicated above, it is useful to have multiple different TCR domains fused to the IL-15, IL-15Rα and IgG components of the T2 molecule. This allows more than one antigen targeting activity to be present in a single multichain protein. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, c264scTCR-Sushi-hIgG1-pMSGVc and c149scTCR-hIL15N72D-pMSGVn expression vectors were co-transfected into CHO cells cultured in IMDM-10 medium. The culture supernatant was harvested after 6 days culture of the transfectants at room temperature. The T2 molecules of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 were characterized with ELISAs. The purified T2-molecules of c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c264 scTCR/huIL15N72D were used as a control. In one assay to assess the TCR domains, wells were coated with anti-human TCR Ab (BF1), the fusion protein was added and the bound protein was detected with biotinylated anti-human TCR Ab (W4F-BN).

The results shown in FIG. 22 indicate that the TCR domains of T2 molecules composed of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 were detectable by anti-TCR antibodies. To assess the IgG1 and IL-15 domains of the T2 proteins, an ELISA comprised of a goat anti-human IgG Ab capture and anti-human IL-15 Ab detection described above as used.

As shown in FIG. 23, the T2 molecule composed of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 was detectable in this format indicating interaction between the protein chains containing the IgG and IL-15N72D domains. The activity of the c149scTCR domain was also examined in an ELISA using anti-human IgG Ab capture and detection with p53 (aa 149-157) peptide/HLA-A2 streptavidin-HRP tetramers.

Shown in FIG. 24, the T2 molecule composed of c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 was detectable in this format indicating molecules with a IgG1 domain also have binding activity to the p53 (aa 149-157) peptide/HLA-A2 complex via interactions between the c149scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains. Additional assays consisting of anti-human IgG Ab capture and detection with either p53 (aa 149-157) peptide/HLA-A2 or p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 tetramers or anti-TCR Ab (BF1) capture and anti-TCR Ab or anti IL15 Ab detection verified that each of the domains was functionally linked in the T2 protein composed of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c149scTCR/huIL15N72D chains (FIG. 24).

T2 molecules in which these two TCR domains were expressed on the other protein chains, i.e. c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c149scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, were also generated. The Fc and TCR activity of these molecules were assessed following binding to U937 cells and detection with p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 tetramers followed by flow cytometry.

As shown in FIG. 25, T2 molecules composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c149scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains were capable of binding Fc gamma receptors on U937 cells via the Fc domain and recognizing p53 (aa 264-272) peptide/HLA-A2 complex via the c264scTCR domain. These studies verify the T2 molecules with multiple functional TCR domains and IL-15 and IL15Rα and IgG1 domains are capable of forming structures as shown in FIG. 1.

EXAMPLE 9 Characterization of T2 Protein Pharmacokinetics in Mice and Cynomolgus Monkeys

A major limitation with potential therapies with IL-15 is the very short biological half-life of the cytokine in vivo. To assess the biological pharmacokinetic properties of the T2 molecules in an animal model, HLA-A2/Kb-transgenic mice (5 mice/timepoint) were injected intravenously with purified T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) at 135 μg/mouse. The HLA-A2/Kb-transgenic mouse model was selected since presence of HLA-A2.1 domain, for which this c264scTCR is restricted, may influence the pharmacokinetics of the protein and should give a more relevant “humanized” view of pharmacokinetics than other non-human models. In this study, blood was collected at 0, 1, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72, 96 hours post injection and the levels of T2 protein in the serum was measured by ELISA. Two different ELISA formats were used: 1) goat anti-human IgG Ab capture and anti-human TCR Ab (W4F-BN) detection or 2) goat anti-human IgG Ab capture and anti-human IL-15 Ab detection. These assays allow assessment of the stability of the intact protein and multichain protein complex.

As shown in FIG. 26A, the T2 molecule had a biological half-life of about 9-11 hours following intravenous injection. This is considerably longer than the reported ˜1 hour half-life of human IL-15 observed in mice after IP injection (Stoklasek T A et al. 2006. J. Immunol. 177: 6072). Additionally the T2 molecule reached serum concentrations consistent with the dose delivered, whereas very little of the administered dose of IL-15 was recovered in the serum in the study reported previously (Stoklasek T A et al. 2006. J. Immunol. 177: 6072). Thus, the T2 molecule has a significantly better pharmacokinetic profile than free human IL-15. In addition, based on the similar PK profile observed with the two ELISAs, the T2 protein remained intact as a multichain molecule with no evidence of cleavage.

To assess the biological pharmacokinetic properties of the T2 molecules in a primate model, cynomolgus monkeys (n=2, 1m, 1f) were injected intravenously with purified T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains) at 0.5 mg/kg. In this study, blood was collected at 0, 1, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours post injection and the levels of T2 protein in the serum was measured by ELISA. Three different ELISA formats were used: 1) anti-human TCR Ab (βF-1) capture and HRP conjugated goat anti-human IgG Ab detection or 2) anti-human IL-15 Ab capture and HRP conjugated goat anti-human IgG Ab detection or 3) anti-human IL-15 Ab capture and anti-human TCR Ab (W4F-BN) detection. These assays allow assessment of the stability of the intact protein and the multichain protein complex.

As shown in FIG. 26B, the T2 molecule had a biological half-life of about 4-6 hours following intravenous injection. This is considerably longer than the reported ˜1 hour half-life of IL-15 observed in monkeys following subcutaneous injection (Villinger, F. et al. 2004. Vaccine 22: 3510). Thus, the T2 molecule appears to have a significantly better pharmacokinetic profile than free IL-15. In addition, based on the similar PK profile observed with the three ELISAs, these data supports the murine PK data that suggests the T2 protein remains intact as a multichain molecule with no evidence of cleavage.

EXAMPLE 10 Anti-Tumor Activity of T2 Molecules Against Solid Human Tumors in Xenograft Tumor Mouse Model

To determine the therapeutic effects of the T2 protein, we examined antitumor activity in a primary tumor growth model with the human p53+ HLA-A2+ A375 melanoma cell line in nude mice. Tumor cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice and tumors were allowed to grow to 100 mm³ before treatment began. Tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously with 32 μg/dose (1.6 mg/kg) T2 protein composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains, 32 μg/dose (1.6 mg/kg) c264scTCR/huIL2, or 60 μg/dose (3 mg/kg) 264scTCR/huIgG1. The mice were treated every other day for one week (3 injections) followed by a 9 day rest period and then every other day for an additional week (3 injections). During the study, tumor growth was measured and the tumor volumes were plotted (FIG. 27). The results were compared to A375 tumor growth in mice treated with only PBS.

As shown in FIG. 27, A375 tumor growth was inhibited in nude mice treated with either T2 molecule or TCR-IL2 or TCR-IgG fusion proteins. Previous studies showed that the antitumor effects of the p53 specific TCR-IL2 or TCR-IgG fusion proteins in this model were the results of targeting the effector domain activity to the tumor site via the TCR domain (Belmont et al. 2006 Clin. Immunol. 121:29, Mosquera et al. 2005 J. Immunol. 174:4781). To assess this possibility, T2 proteins with non-targeted TCR domains will be tested in the A375 tumor xenograft mouse model. A decrease in efficacy of the non-targeted T2 molecules compared with the p53-specific T2 proteins against the A375 tumor will provide evidence that tumor antigen targeting play a role in the antitumor activity of the T2 molecules.

EXAMPLE 11 Characterization of T2 Molecules with Mutations in the IL-15 and Fc Domains

As disclosed in WO2008143794, mutations can be introduced into the IL-15 domain that increase or decrease its ability to interact with the IL-15Rβγ chains and affect its biological activities. For example, as indicated above, the N72D substitution can increase the IL-15 biological activity 5 to 10 fold. In other instances, it is useful to decrease IL-15 activity to provide antagonist function. To examine the effects of such mutations in the context of the T2 molecular format, c264scTCR/huIL15 constructs containing substitutions at positions 8 (i.e., D8N) and 65 (i.e., N65D) of the IL-15 domain were generated and co-expressed with the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 protein. The resulting complexes of c264scTCR/huIL15 variant and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains were tested for IL-15 biological activity using the 32Dβ cells as described in Example 5. As shown in FIG. 28, the T2 molecules comprising IL-15 D8N and N65D variants exhibited a significant decrease in their ability to support 32Dβ cell proliferation compared to the T2 molecules comprising IL-15 N72D domain or the c264scTCR/huIL15 fusions. Consistent with the results of Example 5, the T2 molecules comprising IL-15 N72D domain exhibited more IL-15 activity than either the c264scTCR/huIL15N72D or c264scTCR/huIL15 fusions.

Mutations were also introduced into the IgG1 Fc domain that were previously shown to decrease its ability to interact with Fc gamma receptor or complement (Hessell, A. J., et al. 2007. Nature 449: 101-1040, incorporated herein by reference). For example, the substitution of leucine residues at positions 234 and 235 of the IgG1 C_(H)2 (numbering based on antibody consensus sequence) (i.e. . . . P E L L G G . . . (SEQ ID NO: 1)) with alanine residues (i.e. . . . P E A A G G . . . (SEQ ID NO: 2)) results in a loss of Fc gamma receptor binding whereas the substitution of the lysine residue at position 322 of the IgG1 C_(H)2 (numbering based on antibody consensus sequence) (i.e. . . . K C K S L . . . (SEQ ID NO: 3)) with an alanine residue (i.e. . . . K C A S L . . . (SEQ ID NO: 4)) results in a loss of complement activation (Hessell, A. J., et al. 2007.

Nature 449: 101-1040, incorporated herein by reference). These substitutions were introduced into the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 construct and the resulting protein was co-expressed with c264scTCR/huIL15N72D or the other TCR-IL-15 variants described above. The ability of these complexes to mediate ADCC activity of human PBMCs against p53 aa264-272 peptide-loaded HLA-A2-positive T2 target cells was assessed as described in Example 6. Other mutations known to alter Fc function are provided, for example, in Lazar et al., PNAS, 103:4005-4010, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference).

As show in FIG. 29, the T2 complex comprising the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1-LALA and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains was not capable of mediating high levels of ADCC activity consistent with the loss of Fc gamma receptor binding exhibited by the Fc-LALA variant. In contrast, complexes comprising c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1-KA and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains or the IL-15 variants (N65D or D8N) described above exhibited the same level of ADCC activity as the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1-c264scTCR/huIL15N72D complex. Without being bound by mechanism, these data are also expected based on the likelihood that the IL-15 domain and the Fc complement-binding domain are not involved in mediating ADCC activity.

The effects of the IL-15 and Fc mutations on the ability of the T2 molecules to stimulate human NK and T cell responses were also examined. Human PBMCs at 1.8 to 5×10⁵ cells/mL were incubated for 4 days at 37° C. in media containing 1 nM T2 molecules comprising the mutations described above or with 10 ng/mL recombinant human IL-2 or IL-15 as a control.

NK cell cytotoxicity was then assessed using NK-sensitive K-562 cells as target cells following labeling with 50 ug/ml of Calcein-AM. Various ratios of PBMCs and K-562 cells were mixed and incubated at 37° C. in a CO₂ incubator for 2 hrs and 100 μl of the conditional medium were collected and analyzed for Calcein released from lysed cells. Calcein was quantitated with a fluorescence reader at Ex-485 nm, Em-538 nm, and Cutoff-530 nm. The specific cell lysis is calculated with the following formula: Specific Lysis=[exp-(background-auto release)]/[Complete release-(background-auto release)]×100%. Exp=K-562 cells+PBMC; Background=medium only; Auto release=K-562 cells only; Complete release=K-562 cells+0.5% Triton X-100.

As shown in FIG. 30, incubation with the T2 molecule comprising the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains was capable of stimulating NK cell cytolytic activity of human PBMCs compared to that observed following incubation with media alone. In addition the T2 molecules comprising the Fc domain LALA and KA variants were also capable of stimulating NK cell activity whereas those comprising N65D or D8N substitutions in the IL-15 domain should little or no ability to stimulate NK cell cytotoxicity. Consistent with these results, incubation of human PBMCs with T2 molecules comprising the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains or those with the Fc domain LALA and KA variants resulted in an increase in proliferation of CD56+ NK cells whereas T2 molecules comprising IL-15 N65D or D8N substitutions did not provide as much NK cell proliferative activity (FIG. 31). These results are expected based on the functionality of each of the IL-15 domain.

For some applications, decreased interactions between the T2 molecules and the IL-15 or Fc receptors may be desirable to reduce non-specific binding to cells bearing these receptors. To assess this, T2 molecules containing IL-15 and Fc mutations were evaluated for TCR-specific target cell recognition using T2 cells loaded with peptide. Cell staining with the T2 molecules or c264scTCR-streptavidin tetramer positive control was performed on T2 cells with (T2.265) and without loaded p53 peptide (T2) using the method described in Example 7 (FIG. 32A). Based on the staining of unloaded cells, it is clear that the T2 molecule comprising the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains shows significant cell binding compared to the c264scTCR-streptavidin tetramer or BF1 antibody controls. Introduction of the Fc LALA or IL-15 N65D or D8N mutations reduced this cell binding indicating that interactions with both Fc and IL-15 receptors play a role in T2 complex binding. Combination of the Fc LALA and IL-15 N65D or D8N mutations further reduced T2 complex binding such that the molecule comprising c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1-LALA and c264scTCR/huIL15 D8N did not show binding to unloaded T2 cells above the BF1 antibody negative control. Staining of p53 peptide loaded cells was also effected by introduction of the Fc or IL-15 mutations. However, when the mean fluorescence intensity of T2 molecule staining for peptide loaded verses non-loaded cells was compared (specific to nonspecific ratio), it is clear that the T2 molecule comprising c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1-LALA and c264scTCR/huIL15 D8N chains provided the highest staining specificity for the p53 peptide antigen (FIG. 32B). These results indicate that the binding activities of each of the TCR, IL-15 and IgG Fc domains of the T2 molecule can be readily and independently manipulated to provide a multispecific complex with the desired biological activity.

In other cases, it is useful to modify the activity of the IL-15 domain and the IgG Fc domains to optimize the therapeutic index and minimize toxicity of the T2 complex. For example, targeted complexes relying in part on ADCC activity for their therapeutic effect may require dosing at high levels (i.e. 1-20 mg/kg) that exceed the tolerable dose level of the IL-15 component. In such a case, complexes containing a mutation in the IL-15 domain that reduces its activity are expected to provide better therapeutic activity and lower toxicity. T2 molecules containing N65D or D8N substitutions in the IL-15 domain described above or other substitutions including I6S, D8A, D61A, N65A, N72R, V104P or Q108A, which has been found to reduce IL-15 activity, are of particular interest.

EXAMPLE 12 Characterization of Non-Targeted T2 Molecules

In some applications, it is not necessary to target specific antigens with the T2 complex. In such molecules the antigen-specific domains such as the TCR binding domains can be inactivated by mutations or completely deleted. Using the methods described herein, the activity of such a molecule comprising huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and huIL15 D8N chains referred to as T2MΔTCR was compared to the T2 molecule comprising c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D chains (referred to as T2M) and a T2 molecule lacking the huIgG1 chain (c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D, referred to as T2MΔIg or c264scTCR dimer). When tested for ability to support 32Dβ cell growth as described in Example 5, the T2MΔTCR exhibited very potent IL-15 activity (FIG. 33A) that was >24 fold that observed with recombinant human IL-15.

The ability of the T2MΔTCR to support human immune cell growth was also assessed. Human PBMC at 1×10⁶ cells/ml were incubated with media in the presence or absence of T2M (0.5 nM), T2MΔTCR (0.5 nM), or T2MΔIg (1 nM) for 7 days. Cells were stained with anti-CD45RO and anti-CD8, or anti-CD8, anti-CD95, and anti-CCR7, or anti-CD56 and anti-CD16, and analyzed with FACScan. The averaged results from 8 different donors shown in FIG. 33B indicate that the T2MΔTCR and other T2 molecules could effectively stimulate expansion of various CD8+ memory T cell and NK cell subsets including effector memory T cells. The NK cell activity of these cells was examined using the methods described in Example 11. Representative results from 2 donor PBMC preparations shown in FIG. 33C indicate that the T2MΔTCR and other T2 molecules could effectively stimulate NK cell cytolytic activity. Overall these results indicate that the T2MΔTCR protein is a potent immunostimulatory molecule.

EXAMPLE 13 In Vivo Activity of T2 Molecules

To further characterize the immunostimulatory activity of the T2 molecules, T2M, T2MΔTCR, T2MΔTCR lacking the IgG1 CH1 domain (T2MΔTCRΔCH1), T2M with the Fc-LALA mutation (T2MLALA) and T2 with the IL-15 D8N mutation (T2MD8N) were tested for their ability to induce expansion of NK and CD8 T-cells in C57BL/6 mice. In addition, c264scTCR/huIL15N72D, c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D+c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi complexes were evaluated.

Mice were i.v. injected on day 1 and 4 with the fusion proteins at an amount equivalent to a 2.5 μg dose of IL-15. On day 8, blood cells and splenocytes were collected, stained for CD8 T-cells and NK cells, and analyzed by flow cytometry. The results shown in FIG. 34 indicate that T2 molecules are effective at expanding both blood and splenic NK cells and CD8 T cells in vivo. T2MLALA showed similar activity as T2M, suggesting FcR binding and signaling may not play a significant role in NK and CD8 T cell expansion. T2MD8N treatment resulted in decreased activity when compared with T2M, confirming the finding that D8N mutation diminished the molecule's immunostimulatory activity in vitro using human PBMC. Deletion of TCR (T2MΔTCR) and deletions of TCR and CH1 (T2MΔTCRΔCH1) showed decreased activity. These effects may have been due to the shorter half-lives of these smaller molecules. The c264scTCR/huIL15N72D, c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi and c264scTCR/huIL15N72D+c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi complexes also showed reduced in vivo activity relative to the T2M, verifying the in vitro results indicating that the T2 molecule is a more potent immunostimulatory compound.

EXAMPLE 14 Multispecific T2 Molecules

To further characterize the ability of the IL-15 and IL-15Rα/IgG Fc fusion domains to act as a scaffold for multiple binding domains, a fusion protein complex (OT1-CD8-T2M) was created comprising a single-chain TCR domain (OT1scTCR) specific for H-2K^(b)-restricted OVA aa257-264 peptide (SIINFEKL (SEQ ID NO: 20)) linked to huIL15N72D and a single chain CD8α/β domain linked to the huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 fusion. The single chain CD8α/β domain comprises the extracellular domain of murine CD8α linked via a (G₄S)₄ peptide linker (SEQ ID NO: 21) to the extracellular domain of murine CD8β. It is well characterized that CD8 binds to a site in the MHC molecule distal to the TCR-specific peptide/MHC interface. Thus both the OTscTCR and scCD8α/β domains of the OT1-CD8-T2M complex are expected to interact at different sites on the OVA aa257-264/H-2K^(b)-molecule.

To test this, binding activity of OT1-CD8-T2M was compared to that of the OT1scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion by ELISA. Equal molar amounts of each protein was captured on a well coated with anti-TCR Cβ mAb (H57) and probed with OVA aa257-264/H-2K^(b) tetramers or mAbs to IL15, CD8α, CD8β or TCR Vα2. Assays were also preformed with wells coated with anti-human Ig and probed with anti-TCR Vα2.

As shown in FIG. 35A, the OT1-CD8-T2M protein exhibited reactivity to anti-IL15, CD8α, CD8β, TCR Vα2 and human Ig antibodies. There was about a 3-fold higher reactivity to anti-TCR Vα2 mAb than OT1scTCR/huIL15N72D, as expected based on the multivalent format of the T2M fusion complex. However, the OT1scTCR/huIL15N72D fusion showed little or no binding to OVA aa257-264/H-2K^(b) tetramers whereas binding was clearly apparent with the OT1-CD8-T2M protein (FIG. 35B). These results indicate that both the OTscTCR and scCD8α/β domains of the OT1-CD8-T2M complex bind to the OVA aa257-264/H-2K^(b) molecule to provide high affinity stable interactions.

EXAMPLE 15 IL-15:IL-15Rα Domains as a Functional Scaffold

Preparation of Peptide/MHC Class I (pMHCI) Tetramers—The murine H-2 Kb gene was cloned from total RNA extracted from C57BL/6 mouse lymphocytes as described above. The extracellular region was ligated into the HLA-A*0201 heavy chain expression vector (31) replacing the HLA-A*0201 coding sequence (31). The β2m, HLA-A*0201 and H-2 Kb expression vectors were individually transformed into E. coli and expression of the recombinant proteins were induced as described (31), and were expressed as insoluble inclusion bodies. The active and soluble proteins in complex with the peptides were obtained by the re-folding method described at www.microbiology.emory.edu/altman/jdaWebSite_v3/ptetPrepOverview.shtml. The p53 (aa264-272) and (aa149-157) peptide/HLA-A*0201 reagents are referred to as A2/p53.264-272 and A2/p53.149-157, respectively, and the OVA (aa257-264) peptide/H-2 Kb is referred to as Kb/OVA.257-264.

ELISA—Immunoplates (Maxisorb, Nunc, Rochester, N.Y.) were coated with (BF1) 8A3.31 mAb for capturing c264scTCR fusion proteins or with H57-597 mAb for capturing OT1scTCR fusion proteins. After washing, the proteins were detected using various probes as detailed in the Results section. ABTS (2,2′-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]-diammonium salt) substrate was then added and absorbance was measured at 405 nm using a 96-well plate reader (Versamax, Sunnyvale, Calif.).

Flow Cytometry—For characterization of the c264scTCR fusion protein complexes, T2 cells were pulsed with p53 (aa264-272) peptide at 37° C. for 2 h in the presence of peptide loading enhancer (PLE, Altor BioScience Corp., Miramar, Fla.). For the OT1scTCR fusion protein complexes, murine lymphoma EL4 cells were pulsed with OVA peptide at 100 μg/ml and PLE at 37° C. for 6 h. The various birA fusion proteins (complexed with SA-PE) were added and incubated at 4° C. for 1 h. The samples were washed two times and analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer using CellQuest software (BD Biosciences, San Jose, Calif.).

To assess IL-15 domain binding activity, 32Dβ cells were incubated with 320 nM of the c264scTCR fusion protein complexes for 30 min at 4° C. The binding of the proteins was in turn detected with biotinylated (BF1) 8A3.31 mAb for 15 min and SA-PE (5 μg/ml each) for 15 min. The stained cells were analyzed by flow cytometry as described above.

Cell proliferation assays—Cell proliferation was measured as previously described (25). Briefly, 32Dβ cells (1×10⁵ cells/well) were incubated with increasing concentrations of scTCR/hIL-15 or scTCR/hIL-15 muteins in the presence or absence of an equal molar concentration of scTCR/hIL-15RαSu for 48 h at 37° C. Cell proliferation reagent WST-1 (Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, Ind.) was added during the last 4 h of cell growth according to the manufacturer's procedures. Conversion of WST-1 to the colored formazan dye by metabolically active cells was determined through absorbance measurements at 440 nm. The EC₅₀ was determined with the dose-response curve generated from the experimental data by nonlinear regression variable slope curve-fitting with Prizm4 software (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, Calif.).

Surface Plasmon Resonance—The affinity constants of the OT1scTCR fusion proteins to their cognate pMHCI were determined using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) methodology on a BIAcore 2000 instrument (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, N.J.). Biotinylated pMHCI complexes were immobilized onto the streptavidin-coated surface of a SA5 sensor chip (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, N.J.) by injecting protein at 2 μg/ml in HBS buffer (10 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 3.4 mM EDTA, 0.005% P20 surfactant, pH 7.4) at a flow rate of 10 μl/min. This resulted in 1000-1200 RU of immobilized pMHCI complexes.

The purified OT1scTCR fusion proteins were diluted to 1 μM, 0.5 μM and 0.25 μM in HBS. Each concentration was injected once (50 μl) at a flow rate of 10 μl/min over a freshly immobilized pMHCI surface as well as over a control streptavidin surface blocked with biotin (baseline) and the binding curves were registered. The dissociation constant (K_(D)) and association (k_(on)) and dissociation (k_(off)) rates were calculated from the corrected binding curves (baseline subtracted) using the BIAevaluation 4.1.1 software (GE Healthcare Sciences, Piscataway, N.J.).

Creation of scTCR dimers using the hIL-15:hIL-15Rα scaffold—We have previously shown that a biologically active, bifunctional fusion protein, designated as c264scTCR/hIL-15, could be created by fusing the N-terminus of hIL-15 to a three-domain, HLA-A*0201-restricted chimeric TCR specific for the p53 (aa264-272) peptide antigen (c264scTCR) (25) (FIG. 36A). We constructed a similar fusion protein with c264scTCR and the sushi-binding domain (aa 1-66) of human IL-15Rα (hIL-15RαSu), which has been shown to contain the structural elements responsible for hIL-15 binding. This fusion protein was genetically linked to a birA peptide tag to allow for biotinylation and subsequent multimerization in the presence of streptavidin (32). This fusion protein is designated c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA and its expression and purification from CHO cells were similar to that of c264scTCR/hIL-15 (25). These fusion proteins are readily produced at a level of mgs per liter of cell-culture supernatants (data not shown).

Based on the high specific binding activity between the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu domains, we anticipated that the fusion proteins could form a heterodimeric complex. In addition, examination of the crystal structure of the human IL-15:IL15Rα complex indicated that the N-termini of the two proteins are at opposite ends of the complex approximately 50 Å apart (33). Hence, fusion of the scTCR domains to these regions is not expected to block complex formation.

Initial evidence of binding between the c264scTCR/hIL-15 and c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA fusion proteins was observed in ELISAs using the plate-bound c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA to capture hIL-15 and c264scTCR/hIL-15 proteins (25). To further characterize the dimeric c264scTCR fusion protein complexes (referred to as c264scTCR dimer), equal molar amounts of purified c264scTCR/hIL-15 and c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/BirA fusion proteins were mixed and allowed to associate at room temperature for more than 10 min. The complexes and the individual protein fusions were evaluated by size exclusion chromatography.

As shown in FIG. 36B, the major species in the purified c264scTCR/hIL-15 and c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/BirA fusion protein preparations displayed an SEC profile consistent with monomeric proteins (molecular weight (MW)=115 and 113 kDa, respectively) whereas the mixture of the two proteins resulted in a major peak with a molecular weight corresponding to a dimeric complex (MW>192 kDa). Thus, the appearance of the larger molecular weight species in the c264scTCR dimer preparations is evidence that the heterodimeric complex has been generated.

The c264scTCR dimer was compared with monomeric c264scTCR/BirA protein for their ability to bind the TCR-specific antigen, p53 (aa264-272)/HLA-A*0201. In each case, the proteins were biotinylated with biotin ligase followed by complexing with SA-PE (32) to generate multimeric flow cytometry staining reagents as previously described (32). When used to stain HLA-A*0201-positive T2 cells pulsed with varying concentrations of p53 (aa264-272) peptide, both reagents exhibited antigen-specific binding that increased in a peptide-concentration dependent manner (FIG. 37A). However, the staining reagents comprising the c264scTCR dimer stained up to three times better than the monomer-derived c264scTCR/birA counterparts (FIG. 37B). Without being bound by mechanism, these data suggest that dimerization through IL-15:IL-15Rα interaction preserves the functional activity of the scTCRs and increases the effective affinity of scTCR fusion complex to its cognate HLA/peptide through increased avidity. Similar results were observed when biotinylation via the birA tag was directed to the C-terminus of the scTCR/hIL-15 of the complex (data not shown). This demonstrates that the C termini of the complex are accessible to conjugation to molecular probes of significant size (MW of streptavidin is approximately 60 kDa) without interfering with either the dimerization or antigen binding domains of the fusion protein complex.

These studies were extended to examine the possibility of generating bispecific molecules. A second scTCR (c149scTCR) was created which recognizes an HLA-A*0201 restricted epitope of the human p53 protein spanning the amino acid residues of 149 to 157 (24). This scTCR was fused to hIL-15 and the resulting protein, designated c149scTCR/hIL-15, was co-expressed in CHO cells with the c264scTCR/hIL-15αSu/birA fusion. The fusion complex observed in the supernatant of the recombinant CHO cell culture was immobilized using an anti-IL-15 antibody and probed either by HRP-labeled p53 (aa264-272) or p53 (aa149-157) peptide/HLA-A*0201 tetramers. As shown in FIG. 37C, the anti-IL-15 antibody captured fusion protein complex was able to bind both of the peptide-loaded HLA tetramers. The result demonstrates that the individual scTCR molecules retain functional activity when fused to the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold and the spatial arrangement of hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu complex does not significantly interfere with the packing of the scTCR domains which have an individual molecular weight of approximately 40 kDa.

To demonstrate the broad utility of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold for protein dimerization, we created a second dimeric scTCR fusion complex by pairing two single-chain OT1 TCRs, one fused to the N-terminus of hIL-15 and another to the N-terminus of hIL-15RαSu/birA protein. OT1 is a well-characterized TCR recognizing an epitope of OVA protein spanning the amino acid residues 257 to 264 in the context of murine H-2 Kb (34). OT1 single-chain TCR (OT1scTCR) gene was generated and fused to the hIL-15 and OT1scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA constructs for recombinant CHO cell expression. The affinity purified OT1scTCR fusion proteins were found to have pMHCI binding activity in ELISA using anti-mouse TCR Cβ H57 antibody as a capture reagent and HRP-labeled, OVA (aa257-264) peptide-loaded H-2 Kb tetramer (FIG. 42). To distinguish the difference in binding activity between the OT1scTCR dimer and OT1scTCR/birA monomer, we conducted flow cytometry analysis similar to those described above for the c264scTCR dimers but with H-2 Kb-positive EL4 cells loaded with OVA (aa257-264) peptide.

As shown in FIG. 38, SA-PE tetramers comprising the OT1scTCR dimer indeed stained significantly better than those comprising monomeric OT1scTCR/birA fusions. We also performed surface plasmon resonance assays to assess the binding affinity of the OT1scTCR monomer and dimer against the biotinylated OVA (aa257-264) peptide-loaded H2-Kb/birA complexes immobilized on a streptavidin sensor chip. The apparent binding affinity (KD) of the OT1scTCR dimer to OVA peptide/H-2 Kb complexes was estimated to be about 30 μM, whereas no binding was observed for the monomeric OT1scTCR/birA fusion protein (Table 1). These data confirm that dimerization through hIL-15:hIL-15Rα interaction preserves the biological activity of the scTCRs and increases the effective affinity of the scTCR molecule to its cognate pMHCI complexes through increased avidity.

Creation of an OT1scTCR/scCD8 Heterodimer—Since the CD8 molecule has been previously demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the interaction between OT1 TCR and its cognate OVA peptide/H2-Kb complex (35-37), the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold provides an opportunity to assess whether CD8 molecule enhances OT1 TCR binding affinity to OVA peptide/H-2 Kb expressed on the cell surface and under cell-free and adhesion molecule-free conditions. To achieve this, we first created a murine CD8 molecule in single-chain format (scCD8) by fusing the extracellular domains of the α and β chains of the murine CD8 using a flexible linker. This fusion gene was fused to the hIL-15RαSu/birA construct in a retroviral expression vector. Recombinant retrovirus was then used to infect a CHO cell line expressing the OT1scTCR/hIL-15 fusion protein. The heterodimeric fusion protein complex was purified from the supernatant of the cultured recombinant CHO cells using the anti-TCR antibody-based affinity chromatography as described above. This purified protein was subjected to ELISA using anti-TCR antibody as the capture reagent and either the biotinylated anti-mCD8α or anti-mCD8β mAbs as probes.

As shown in FIG. 39A, the anti-TCR Ab-immobilized fusion complex contains both the CD8α and CD8β and, thus, indicates formation of an OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer. We used flow cytometry analysis to compare the binding activity of the OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer with the OT1scTCR dimer to varying amounts of OVA peptide/H-2 Kb complexes displayed on the cell surface. As shown in FIG. 39B, SA-PE staining reagents comprising the OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer could readily detect OVA peptide/H-2 Kb complexes on EL4 cells loaded with as little as 10 ng/ml OVA peptide, whereas little or no staining was observed at this peptide concentration when comparable reagents comprising the OT1scTCR dimer were used. Higher background OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer staining was observed on EL4 cells that were not pulsed with peptide, suggesting peptide-independent interactions were occurring between the CD8 domain and MHC molecules on the cell surface. Similar effects have been reported for pMHCI tetramers binding to CD8 molecules expressed on T cells (38).

The results for peptide-specific interactions of the OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer were further confirmed by surface plasmon resonance analysis. The binding affinity (KD) of the OT1scTCR/scCD8 heterodimer to OVA peptide/H-2 Kb complexes was estimated to be 2.6 μM, which is significantly higher than the ˜30 μM observed for the OT1scTCR dimer (Table 1, FIG. 43). Neither fusion protein showed any binding to control VSV peptide/H-2 Kb complexes.

The difference in specific pMHCI binding activity is surprising given that the bivalent nature of the OT1scTCR dimer is expected to provide increased functional affinity in this assay format. Additionally, similar SPR binding studies conducted with soluble TCR, CD8 α/β and pMHCI proteins as independent components showed only weak interactions (KD 30-100 μM) between CD8 protein and peptide/H-2 Kb complexes and no apparent cooperative effects of CD8 on TCR:peptide/H-2 Kb interactions (39-41). Taken together, these data indicate that the addition of the CD8 α/β domain to the OT1scTCR fusion has a greater impact on pMHCI binding than creation of the bivalent OT1scTCR molecule. Our results further demonstrate that the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold could be used to create functional bi-specific molecules with the flexibility to accommodate complex protein-protein interactions. In addition, we show for the first time that a functional CD8 molecule can be constructed as a soluble single-chain molecule and demonstrate that the scCD8 domain when complexed with OT1scTCR in a heterodimeric molecule enhances TCR:pMHCI interactions in cell-free conditions without the presence of other adhesion molecules.

Creation of Functional TCR α/β Heterodimers—As indicated above, the N-termini of the hIL-15 and hIL-15Rα domains are at distal ends of the complex raising questions as to whether this scaffold is suitable for fusions to polypeptides of a multi-chain protein. To determine whether a soluble, biologically active, heterodimeric TCR α/β could be constructed using the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu scaffold, the C-terminal ends of the extracellular OT1 TCR Vα-Cα and Vβ-Cβ domains were linked to the N-termini of hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu/birA chains, respectively. Based on the published α/β TCR crystal structures, the TCR Cα and Cβ C-terminal amino acids of the properly folded OT1 TCR α/β molecule are expected to be ˜18 Å apart (42). The OT1 TCRα/hIL-15 and OT1 TCRβ/hIL-15RαSu/birA fusion genes were cloned into two separate expression vectors and co-transfected into CHO cells. The secreted fusion protein complex was purified using anti-TCR Cβ mAb affinity chromatography as described above. When analyzed by Coomassie-stained SDS-PAGE under reducing condition, the purified protein bands migrated at 50 kDa, consistent with the calculated monomeric MW (40 kDa) of each of the two fusion molecules (data not shown).

The purified protein was further characterized in the functional ELISA (anti-TCR Cβ mAb capture: OVA peptide/H2-Kb tetramer probe). As shown in FIG. 40A, the purified protein was found to have equivalent pMHCI binding activity as OT1 TCR in the single-chain format. Similar results were observed for hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu/birA fusions to the Vα-Cα and Vβ-Cβ chains of the p53-specific 264 TCR (FIG. 40B). Previous attempts to produce soluble α/β TCR heterodimers in mammalian cells have been largely unsuccessful (43,44). Thus, our results suggest that the TCR α and β chains were appropriately folded through the association of the hIL-15 and hIL-15RαSu/birA domains within the transfected cells. Intriguingly, the fusion to N-termini of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold is able to provide the spatial arrangement sufficient for functionally independent binding domains as observed with the c264scTCR/c149scTCR heterodimeric complex while retaining flexibility to permit folding of closely paired chains such as the α and β chains of OT1 TCR and 264 TCR.

Biological Activity of the hIL-15 Domain for the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu Fusion Complexes—The IL-15 receptor (IL-15RβγC) binding capability of the hIL-15:hIL-15Rα domain of the c264scTCR dimer was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis using 32Dβ cells which carries the hIL-15Rβ and the murine γC (mγC) chains. These studies were carried out using c264scTCR dimers containing the wild-type hIL-15 domain, as well as dimers with hIL-15 mutein domains previously shown to enhance (N72D) or reduce (D8N) binding to the hIL-15Rβ chain (25). Additionally we have demonstrated that these mutations do not affect formation of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu complex (25). Following incubation with the c264scTCR dimers, the 32Dβ cells were stained with anti-TCR mAb to detect cell-bound fusion protein dimers. As shown in FIG. 41A, the 32Dβ cells were stained positively by the c264scTCR dimers containing hIL-15 wild-type or hIL-15N72D domains but not with those containing the hIL-15D8N domain, indicating that the IL-15:hIL-15RαSu portion of the complex retains the expected IL-15RβγC binding activity.

The hIL-15 biological activity of the fusion protein dimers were also examined in cell proliferation assays using 32Dβ cells. As shown in FIG. 42B, the hIL-15 wild-type domain in the monomeric (scTCR/hIL-15 fusions) or dimeric (scTCR/hIL-15:scTCR/hIL-15RαSu) fusion formats were able to support the growth of 32Dβ cells in a concentration-dependent manner, exhibiting half-maximal stimulation (EC₅₀) at ˜300 pM. The hIL-15N72D or D8N domains either increased or eliminated the biological activity of the fusion proteins, respectively, regardless whether they were present in the monomeric or dimeric fusions. These results are consistent with the functional activity observed for non-fusion IL-15 cytokine carrying the N72D or D8N mutations (25). Thus, formation of the fusion protein complex containing two independent TCR domains does not significantly change the biological activity of the IL-15 domain. In contrast, there was at least a 3 fold loss of IL-15 activity for the OT1 TCRα/β heterodimer complex (data not shown), suggesting formation of the heterodimeric TCR structure inhibits, to some extent, the ability of the hIL-15 domain to interact with hIL-15RβmγC. Additionally, these results indicate that the hIL-15 domain can be readily manipulated to allow enhanced or reduced receptor binding and functional activity, thus providing additional flexibility for the use of the hIL-15:hIL-15RαSu scaffold in different applications.

EXAMPLE 16 Toxicity Profile and Anti-Tumor Activity of T2 Molecules in Immunocompetent Mice

To determine the further in vivo effects of the of the T2 molecules, T2M lacking the IgG1 CH1 domain (T2MΔCH1) and the non-targeted T2MΔTCRΔCH1 protein complexes, we examined toxicity and antitumor activity in tumor-bearing immunocompetent C57BL mice. B16 (5×10⁵/mouse) or EG7 (1×10⁶/mouse) murine tumor cells were injected subcutaneously into C57BL/6NHsd mice on study day 0. Tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously of study days 1, 4, 8 and 11 with 51 or 25.5 μg/dose T2 protein (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 chains), 47.7 μg/dose T2MΔCH1 (composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 chains) (molar equivalent to 51 μg/dose T2 protein), 16.6 or 8.3 μg/dose T2MΔTCRΔCH1 (composed of huIL15N72D and huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 chains) (molar equivalent to 51 and 25.5 μm/dose T2 protein, respectively), or 1.2 μg/dose rhIL-15 (molar equivalent to 25.5 μg/dose T2 protein). During the study, animal weights and tumor volumes were measured and the results were plotted (FIGS. 44A-B and 45A-B).

Treatment with the T2M, T2MΔCH1 and T2MΔTCRΔCH1 proteins significantly inhibited B16 (FIG. 44A) and EG7 (FIG. 45A) tumor growth compared to that observed following PBS treatment and each of the fusion protein complexes was more efficacious than rhIL-15 administered at an equivalent molar level. Additionally, there was little of no toxicological effect of T2M, T2MΔCH1 and T2MΔTCRΔCH1 treatment as measured by changes in body weight of the tumor-bearing mice (FIGS. 44B and 45B). Without being bound by mechanism, these data are consistent with the in vivo immunostimulatory activity of these molecules in immunocompetent animals (Example 13).

EXAMPLE 17 Further Characterization of the Immunostimulatory and Anti-Tumor Activity of T2M and Derivatives Thereof

To further characterize similar targeted IL-15:IL-15Rα-Fc complexes, recombinant CHO cell lines were generated that co-express the c264scTCR/huIL-15 and c264scTCR/huIL15Rα/IgG1 Fc fusion proteins. In one case the human IgG1 domain contained the entire heavy chain constant (CH1-CH2-CH3) and in a second case the CH2-CH3 domain (i.e. ΔCH1) or Fc domain was used, as indicated above. The protein sequence of the human IgG1 CH2-CH3 domain or Fc domain is shown in FIG. 46. For simplicity, in this example, the resulting c264scTCR/huIL15N72D superagonist:c264scTCR/huIL15Rα/IgG1 CH1-CH2-CH3 complex is referred to as T2 molecules (T2M) and the c264scTCR/huIL15N72D superagonist:c264scTCR/huIL15Rα/IgG1 CH2-CH3 complex as T2M2 (also above as T2MΔCH1). The advantage of these complexes is that dimerization through the Fc domains and interactions between IL-15 and IL-15Rα domains yield tetrameric targeting molecules capable of binding to IL-15Rβγ-positive cells and Fc receptor (FcR)-positive cells. Additionally the activity of each of these domains can be analyzed by mutants that reduce interactions with the cognate receptors. Following soluble expression by recombinant CHO cells, these complexes were purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography using anti-TCR Cβ mAb-Sepharose and Protein A Sepharose. Size exclusion chromatography indicated that the molecules migrated at the size expected for intact complexes.

Similar to analysis described above, the ELISA-based methods have confirmed that the scTCR and IL-15 domains of T2M and T2M2 retain their respective binding activities. Additionally, the IgG1 domain of T2M and T2M2 retains the ability to bind Fc receptor (FcR) bearing cells, allowing specific detection with peptide/HLA tetramers with comparable activity to that of scTCR-IgG1 fusions. T2M and T2M2 were capable of mediating ADCC activity of human lymphocytes against target cells displaying the p53 (aa264-272)/HLA-A2 complex (FIG. 47). These results verify that T2M and T2M2 retain the antibody-like effector functions previously described for the scTCR-IgG fusions. Studies with complexes containing Fc mutations (LALA) that reduce FcR binding activity demonstrated that a functional Fc domain was required for ADCC activity. T2M and T2M2 also supported growth of the IL-15 dependent 32Dβ cell line, though T2M2 showed about ˜3 fold less in vitro IL-15 activity than T2M. The ability of these molecules to stimulate immune responses in mice was also assessed. Treatment of C57BL/6 mice with IL-15 (1 mg/kg) had little or no effect on white blood cell (WBC) counts, spleen weight or the NK and CD8+ T cell populations in the blood whereas treatment with the IL-15N72D:IL-15Rα-IgG CH2-CH3 complex (at a molar equivalent IL-15 dose) resulted in splenomegaly and elevated blood CD8+ T cell levels (FIGS. 48A & B), consistent with the results observed previously for similar IL-15:IL-15Rα-Fc complexes. Both the T2M and T2M2 complexes stimulated an increase in WBC levels, spleen weight and blood NK and CD8+ T cell populations, with the T2M2 complex showing the more potent immunostimulatory effect at an equivalent molar dose (despite exhibiting lower IL-15 activity on 32Dβ cells). Similar treatment dependent effects on NK and CD8+ T cell populations were observed in the spleen. Splenocytes isolated from T2M2 and IL-15N72D/IL-15Rα-IgG complex treated mice showed cytolytic activity against NK-sensitive YAC cells (FIG. 48C). Dose response studies indicate that these effects are observed with a single dose level as low as 0.4 mg/kg (FIG. 49A). Treatment of nude mice with T2M2 and IL-15N72D/IL-15Rα-IgG show an increase in the percentage of NK cells in the blood and spleen 4 days post treatment that decreases to near baseline levels 7 days post treatment (FIG. 49B). Taken together, these results indicate that the T2M2 complex was capable stimulating CD8+ T cell and NK cell responses in mice with significantly higher activity than that of IL-15 and for NK cells than that of the IL-15N72D/IL-15Rα-IgG complex.

The antitumor activity of these complexes was further examined in the subcutaneous A375 xenograft model in nude mice. In initial studies, administration of recombinant human IL-15, the c264scTCR-IL15 and c264scTCR-IL15N72D fusion proteins or the c264scTCR-IL15N72D/c264scTCR-IL15Rα complex showed no effect on s.c. A375 tumor xenografts compared to PBS or c264scTCR-IL15Rα fusion protein treatment (FIG. 50A). The lack of an effect of the TCR-IL15 fusions in this model is likely due the inability of these proteins to stimulate NK cell responses in contrast to the reported results with the c264scTCR-IL2 fusion. As show above, when T2M complexes were tested in this model, they exhibited modest but statistically significant anti-tumor activity consistent with their ability to stimulate NK cell proliferation (FIG. 50B). However, in contrast to treatment with equivalent molar amounts of c264scTCR-IL15 fusion, the T2M dosing schedule (4 mg/kg every other day for 3 weeks) resulted in significant weight loss and two of 6 mice died after the last dose. Clinical observations included mouse inactivity, hunched posture, and ruddy skin. Concurrent studies of IL-15 protein complexes in other models confirmed that repeated every other day dosing was not well tolerated and that weekly dosing provided immune stimulation without excessive toxicity. A change of the dosing regimen from every other day to weekly schedule, T2M2 complex, at a dose level shown to be effective at inducing NK cell proliferation, exhibited significant more potent anti-tumor activity compared to IL-15 or PBS treatment (FIG. 50C). More importantly, this weekly dosing regimen was also well tolerated by the tumor-bearing nude mice and immunocompetent mice.

The toxicity profiles of the scTCR-IL15 fusions and T2M complexes were assessed concurrently with the in vivo activity studies described above. As indicated above, 3 weeks of every other day treatment with scTCR-IL15 fusions was well-tolerated by tumor bearing nude mice but T2M (4 mg/kg) treatment resulted in mortality in >30% of the animals. This was further evaluated in HLA-A*0201/Kb-transgenic mice administered 9, 18, or 36 mg/kg T2M or molar equivalent amounts of T2M2 complexes every other day for 1 week. At 1 week following initiation of treatment, dose and time dependent effects on body weight and clinical observations were seen. Mice receiving 36 mg/kg T2M exhibited a 20% loss in body weight compared to a 12% decrease observed in mice treated with equivalent amounts of T2M2. No change in body weight was observed in mice treated with ˜9 mg/kg T2M or T2M2 over the 1 week period. Interestingly the higher toxicity observed with T2M did not correlate with increased immune cell activation as the mice treated with T2M2 showed higher levels of WBC counts and NK cell levels than T2M-treated mice. Minimal effects on mouse body weight, spleen weight and immune cells was observed following single dose i.v. administration of 0.4 mg/kg T2M2. Additionally preliminary studies in cynomolgus monkeys indicated that a single 0.5 mg/kg i.v. dose of T2M did not cause any observed toxicological effect but was capable of inducing CD8+ memory T cell and effector NK cell expansion. The results of these studies indicate that targeted IL-15 fusion complexes can be generated that have potent immunostimulatory and anticancer activity and favorable toxicity and pharmacokinetic profiles. Through these studies an optimized TCR-targeted T2M2 (also referred to as T2MΔCH1 composed of c264scTCR/huIL15N72D and c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 chains) was defined and characterized. The nucleic acid and protein sequences of the c264scTCR/huIL15RαSushi/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 construct are shown in FIG. 51A and FIG. 51B and FIG. 52, respectively.

EXAMPLE 18 Characterization of T2 Molecules Comprising Antibody Targeting Domains

To demonstrate the utility of the huIL-15:huIL-15RαSu scaffold to create additional disease targeted molecules, constructs were made linking the C-terminal end of an anti-human CD20 single chain antibody to the N-termini of huIL-15N72D and huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 (Fc) chains. The anti-human CD20 single chain antibody (anti-CD20 scAb) sequence comprises the coding regions of the heavy and light chain V domains of the rituximab antibody linked via a flexible linker sequence. The nucleic acid and protein sequences of the anti-CD20 scAb/hIL-15N72D construct are shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, respectively. The nucleic acid and protein sequences of the anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc construct are shown in FIG. 55A and FIG. 55B and FIG. 56, respectively. These sequences were cloned into expression vectors as described above and the expression vectors transfected into CHO cells. Co-expression of the two constructs allowed formation and secretion of a soluble anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15N72D:anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc complex (referred to as anti-CD20 scAb T2M) which was purified from the CHO cell culture supernatant using Protein A affinity chromatography.

Similar to analysis described above, the ELISA-based methods have confirmed formation of the anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15N72D:anti-CD20 scAb/huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 Fc complex. Additionally, IL-15 receptor binding and cell proliferation assays using 32Dβ cells as described above indicated that the complex exhibited IL-15 binding and biologic activity. The anti-CD20 scAb T2M complex was then tested for antigen specific binding activity against the human CD20⁺ Burkitt lymphoma Daudi cell line. Daudi cells were incubated with anti-CD20 scAb T2M, c264scTCR T2M or PBS. Following a wash step, cell bound fusion protein complexes were detected with PE-conjugated goat anti-human Ig antibody (GAH-Ig-PE) by flow cytometry (FIG. 57). The anti-CD20 scAb T2M complex showed significant binding to Daudi cells that was not observed with c264scTCR T2M or GAH-Ig-PE, indicating specific reactivity to these cells.

Studies were also conducted to determine whether the anti-CD20 scAb T2M complexes were capable of killing CD20⁺ tumor cells via an ADCC-based mechanism. Calcein-AM labeled Daudi target cells were mixed with human PMBCs (E:T—100:1) and various concentrations of anti-CD20 scAb T2M, c264scTCR T2M (negative control) or chimeric anti-CD20 mAb (positive control). After an incubation period, target cell lysis was evaluated as described above. As shown in FIG. 58, the anti-CD20 scAb T2M complex was highly effective at mediating ADCC activity against CD20⁺ human lymphoma cells. This was verified by similar studies examining different effector to target cell ratios, where the anti-CD20 scAb T2M complex (at 2 nM) showed comparable activity as the chimeric anti-CD20 mAb (FIG. 59).

Based on these results, the anti-CD20 scAb T2M molecule is expected to exhibit antitumor activity against human lymphoma cells in standard xenograft tumor models (see for example, Rossi et al. Blood 2009; 114:3864; Gillis et al. Blood. 2005; 105:3972; and Xuan et al. Blood 2010; 115:2864-2871).

Additionally T2M constructs comprising anti-CD20 light chains and heavy chain domains individually fused to the huIL-15N72D and huIL-15RαSu/huIgG1 CH2-CH3 (Fc) chains, respectively (or visa versa), could be generated and expressed as described herein. The nucleic acid and protein sequences of two such fusion constructs are shown in FIG. 60, FIG. 61, FIG. 62A and FIG. 62B, and FIG. 63. Purified complexes comprising these fusion proteins are expected to exhibit Fc domain and IL-15 biologic activity, and CD20-specific binding activity, as described above. These complexes are expected to mediate ADCC activity against CD20⁺ tumor cells and antitumor activity against CD20⁺ tumor cells in vivo.

Similar T2M constructs comprising scAb or antibody recognition domains could be readily generated with antibody sequences specific to other CD antigens, cytokines or chemokine receptors or ligands, growth factor receptors or ligands, cell adhesion molecules, MHC/MHC-like molecules, Fc receptors, Toll-like receptors, NK receptors, TCRs, BCRs, positive/negative co-stimulatory receptors or ligands, death receptors or ligands, tumor associated antigens, virus-encoded and bacterial-encoded antigens, and bacterial-specific. Of particular interest are T2M with antibody domains specific to epitopes of CD3, CD4, CD19, CD21, CD22, CD23, CD25, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD40, CD44, CD51, CD52, CD70, CD74, CD80, CD152, CD147, CD221, EGFR, HER-2/neu, HER-1, HER-3, HER-4, CEA, OX40 ligand, cMet, tissue factor, Nectin-4, PSA, PSMA, EGFL7, FGFR, IL-6 receptor, IGF-1 receptor, GD2, CA-125, EpCam, death receptor 5 MUC1, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, PDGFR, Trail R2, folate receptor, angiopoietin-2, alphavbeta3 integrin receptor and HLA-DR antigens. Antibody domains against viral antigens from HIV, HCV, HBC, CMV, HTLV, HPV, EBV, RSV and other virus are also of interest, particularly those recognizing the HIV envelope spike and/or gp120 and gp41 epitopes. Such antibody domains can be generated from sequences known in the art or isolated de novo from a variety of sources (i.e., vertebrate hosts or cells, combinatorial libraries, random synthetic libraries, computational modeling, etc.) know in the art.

Additionally, as indicated above, it is useful to increase or decrease the activity of the IL-15 domain and the IgG Fc domains to optimize the therapeutic index and minimize toxicity of the antibody-targeted T2 complexes. Methods of modifying the activity of Fc domains are described above and are well characterized in the art. In such a case, complexes containing a mutation in the IL-15 domain that reduces its activity are expected to provide better therapeutic activity and lower toxicity. Antibody-targeted T2 molecules containing N65D or D8N substitutions in the IL-15 domain described above or other substitutions including I6S, D8A, D61A, N65A, N72R, V104P or Q108A, which has been found to reduce IL-15 activity, are of particular interest.

EXAMPLE 19 Co-expression of IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc Fusion Gene in CHO Cells

Previous studies have shown that recombinant IL-15 is poorly expressed by mammalian cells (A. Ward et al., Protein Expr Purif 68 (2009) 42-48). However, it has been reported that intracellular complex formation with IL-15Rα prevents IL-15 degradation in the ER (C. Bergamaschi et al., J Biol Chem 283 (2008) 4189-4199). Hence, it was postulated that IL-15 could be produced at a higher level if it is co-expressed with IL-15Rα. It is known that soluble IL-15Rα fragment, containing the so-called “sushi” domain (Su) at the N terminus, bears most of the structural elements responsible for cytokine binding. Soluble IL-15RαSu (without its transmembrane domain) and IL-15 are able to form very stable heterodimeric complexes in solution (K_(d) of complex=100 μM (G. Bouchaud et al., J Mol Biol 382 (2008) 1-12)) and these complexes are capable of modulating (i.e. either stimulating or blocking) immune responses via the IL-15Rβγ_(c), complex (E. Mortier et al., J Biol Chem 281 (2006) 1612-1619; M. P. Rubinstein et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103 (2006) 9166-9171; T. A. Stoklasek et al., J Immunol 177 (2006) 6072-6080; G. Bouchaud et al., J Mol Biol 382 (2008) 1-12). Thus, a complex consisting of IL-15N72D and an IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein was chosen for production (see FIG. 64). The IL-15RαSu domain was genetically fused to the human IgG1-Fc region to facilitate its purification and dimerization via interchain disulfide bonds. To co-express IL-15N72D and the IL-15RαSu/Fc, two individual retrovirus-based expression vectors, pMSGV-IL-15RαSu/Fc and pMSGV-IL-15N72D, were constructed and co-transfected into CHO cells. The recombinant CHO cells were selected based on the neomycin and puromycin resistance elements provided by the two expression vectors, and individual producing cell lines were then generated using limited dilution cloning. A clone that is capable of producing approximately 100 mg/L of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex, based on ELISA, in a serum-free, defined medium was identified. This result demonstrated that IL-15 could be expressed at high levels in mammalian cells if it is co-expressed with the IL-15RαSu domain.

EXAMPLE 20 Purification and Characterization of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc Complex

When IL-15RαSu/Fc and IL-15N72D were co-expressed and assembled intracellularly in recombinant CHO cells, four different forms of proteins were expected in the cell culture supernatants: 1) dimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc molecule fully occupied with two IL-15N72D subunits, 2) dimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc molecule partially occupied with one IL-15N72D subunit, 3) a small amount of free homodimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc molecule with no IL-15 bound, and 4) free IL-15N72D. Since IL-15N72D lacks an Fc region, a rProtein A-based affinity purification step was used to separate the free IL-15N72D from all of the Fc-bearing fusion proteins in the culture supernatant.

An ion exchange chromatography method was then developed to separate various forms of the IL-15RαSu/Fc complex. The calculated isoelectric point (pI) of the IL-15RαSu/Fc dimeric molecule is 8.5. As expected, this protein in 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 solution was subsequently found to not bind to QSFF resin. Additionally, the calculated pI of IL-15N72D is 4.5. Therefore, it was predicted that the overall charge of the partially occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (i.e. dimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc+one IL-15N72D molecule) and the fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc (dimeric IL-15RαSu/Fc+two IL-15N72D molecules) are different. This is consistent with IEF gel analysis of the Protein-A-purified preparations, which showed two major groups of complexes with pIs between 5.6-6.5 and 6.8-7.5 corresponding with the expected pIs of the fully occupied and partially occupied complexes, respectively (FIG. 65A). The heterogeneity among pI bands of each protein group is possibly due to the degree of glycosylation and C-terminal lysine variants in the IgG1 chain. Thus, buffers with different ionic strengths were employed to separately elute the partially occupied and fully occupied complexes from the QSFF. Using 130 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, a single protein fraction (Q step 1) was eluted from QSSF and found to contain mainly the partially occupied complex based on ELISAs determining the fractional occupancy of the IL-15RαSu/Fc molecule. In the subsequent step using 300 mM NaCl, 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, two protein fractions designated as Q1c and Q2c were further eluted from the QSFF. ELISA analyses performed on these preparations indicated that Q1c fraction contained a mixture of partially occupied (10% of total) and fully occupied (90%) complexes whereas Q2c fraction contained only the fully occupied complex (data not shown). These findings are consistent with IEF gel analysis of the purified protein preparations (FIG. 65B). Proteins eluted from Q step 1 have broad pIs ranging from 5.6 to 7.5; proteins of pIs 6.8 to 7.5 representing the partially occupied complex. Fraction Q1c of Q step 2 elution mainly contained protein with pIs ranging from 5.6 to 6.5 (i.e. fully occupied complex) but with small amounts of contaminant protein with pIs of 5.6 to 7.5. The Q2c fraction contained only proteins with pIs ranging from 5.6 to 6.5.

In SEC analysis, the purified IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc Q2c preparation was found to elute as a single molecule with high purity (FIG. 66). The estimated molecular weight of the homodimer was approximately 114 kDa, which was larger than the 92 kDa molecular weight calculated based on the deduced amino acid sequence of IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion proteins. This is likely due to the glycosylation of the proteins produced by mammalian cells.

In reducing SDS-PAGE (FIG. 65C), the purified IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc preparation was found to contain three proteins with molecular weights of 40 kDa, 16 kDa and 13 kDa. However, after a digestion with N-Glycosidase F, only two proteins, with molecular weights of ˜37 kDa and 13 kDa, were detected (FIG. 65D). These molecular weights closely match the calculated molecular weights of IL-15RαSu/Fc and IL-15 or IL-15N72D. This suggests that these two proteins were glycosylated during mammalian cell production and the IL-15N72D was produced in two major glycosylation forms with molecular weights of 13 kDa and 16 kDa. The relative abundance of these IL-15N72D species in the different purification fractions shown in FIG. 65C is consistent with levels of complex occupancy determined by ELISA and IEF gel analysis.

The IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc were separated in reducing SDS-PAGE and the N-terminus amino acid sequences of these proteins were determined using the Edman degradation method. Approximately 15 N-terminal amino acid sequences were obtained for IL-15RαSu/Fc and IL15N72D, respectively. The determined N-terminal amino acid sequences of these proteins matched their amino acid sequences deduced from the coding regions of the two genes. The amino acid sequences for the two major bands that appeared on reduced SDS-PAGE at 13 and 16 kDa were confirmed to be IL-15N72D. This sequence confirmation again provided the evidence of glycosylation of IL-15N72D in mammalian cells.

EXAMPLE 21 Pharmacokinetic Properties of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc Complex

It has previously been reported that IL-15 and in vitro assembled IL15:IL-15Rα/Fc complex had a 1 h and 20 h serum half-life, respectively, in mice when these proteins were injected intraperitoneally (T. A. Stoklasek et al., J Immunol 177 (2006) 6072-6080). To assess whether IL-15 and the co-expressed, purified IL-15:IL-15αSu/Fc complex behaved similarly when administered intravenously, their pharmacokinetic parameters were determined in CD-1 mice. Intravenous administration was chosen because this is likely the route of drug delivery to be used for the IL-15:IL-15αSu-Fc complex in humans. Female mice were injected intravenously with 1.0 mg/kg IL-15:IL-15αSu/Fc or 0.28 mg/kg IL-15 (a molar equivalent dose) and blood was collected at various time points from 15 min to 8 h for IL-15 and 30 min to 72 h for IL-15N72D:IL-15αSu/Fc post injection. Serum concentrations of IL-15N72D:IL-15αSu/Fc were evaluated using two ELISA formats, one (anti-IL-15 Ab detection) which detects the intact complex and the other (anti-human IgG Fc Ab detection) which detects only the IL-15αSu/Fc fusion protein. Concentrations of IL-15 were evaluated with a standard IL-15-specific ELISA.

The predicted fit and actual data for IL-15:IL-15αSu/Fc and IL-15 following the single intravenous bolus injections are shown in FIG. 67. The estimated half-life of IL-15:IL-15αSu/Fc using anti-IL-15 Ab-based or anti-human IgG Fc Ab-based ELISAs was about 25 or 18 h, respectively. These results indicate that the fusion protein was not cleaved and the IL-15 did not significantly disassociate from the IL-15RαSu/Fc molecule in vivo. The clearance (Cl) of IL-15:IL-15αSu/Fc ranged from 0.059 to 0.051 mL/h and the volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) ranged from 2.1 to 1.3 mL depending on the assay format. In comparison, IL-15 had an absorption half-life of 0.24 h and a terminal half-life of 0.64 h. The Cl of IL-15 was 49 mL/h, and the Vss was 18.4 mL. These results indicate that IL-15:IL-15αSu/Fc displays a >24 fold longer terminal half-life and is cleared >800 fold slower than IL-15.

EXAMPLE 22 In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Activities of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc Complex

The biological activity of the co-expressed and purified IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex was evaluated using an IL-15 dependent 32Dβ cell proliferation assay. For this assay, an in vitro assembled (IVA) IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex (IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc IVA) was also generated by mixing IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc at a 1:1 ratio for 30 min at 4° C. As shown in FIG. 68, the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex had equivalent biological activity as IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc IVA to support growth of 32Dβ cells. The IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex exhibited an EC₅₀ of 15.61 pM and the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc IVA displayed an EC₅₀ of 15.83 pM. This demonstrates that the co-expressed IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex is appropriately processed intracellularly and retains full IL-15 activity after purification. Thus, the method presented herein represents a better approach for generating cGMP-grade clinical material than current strategies employing in vitro assembly individually produced and in some cases refolded proteins.

The IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex and IL-15 wt were also compared for their ability to induce the expansion of NK cells and CD8⁺ T cells in C57BL/6 mice. As shown in FIG. 69, IL-15 wt has no significant effect on the expansion of NK and CD8⁺ cells four days after a single intravenous dose of 0.28 mg/kg. In contrast, the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex significantly promoted NK and CD8⁺ T cell proliferation in the blood and spleen, which led to lymphocytosis in blood and splenomegaly (FIGS. 69 and 70). These findings are consistent with previous reports that IL-15:IL-15Rα complexes significantly increased the biological activities of IL-15 in vivo (M. P. Rubinstein et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103 (2006) 9166-9171; T. A. Stoklasek et al., J Immunol 177 (2006) 6072-6080; S. Dubois et al., J Immunol 180 (2008) 2099-2106; M. Epardaud et al., Cancer Res 68 (2008) 2972-2983; A. Bessard et al., Mol Cancer Ther 8 (2009) 2736-2745). This enhanced activity of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex is likely the result of a combination of the increased binding activity of the N72D mutein to the IL-15Rβγ_(c) complex (X. Zhu et al., J Immunol 183 (2009) 3598-3607), optimized cytokine trans-presentation by the IL-15Rα chain in vivo (through the FcR receptors on dendritic cells and macrophage), the dimeric nature of the cytokine domain (increased avidity of binding to IL-15Rβγ_(c)) and its increased in vivo half-life compared to IL-15 (25 h vs. <40 min).

In sum, the results described herein demonstrate that the IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc genes can be co-expressed in recombinant CHO cells and a fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex can be highly purified from cell culture supernatants using a simple scalable purification method.

The above examples were carried out using the following materials and methods.

Construction of Vectors for Protein Complex Expression

The IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion gene was constructed by overlap PCR amplification of DNA templates encoding the sushi domain of human IL-15Rα(aa1-66 of human IL-15Rα) and the human IgG1 Fc fragment. The signal peptide-IL-15RαSu coding region (R.L. Wong et al., Protein Eng Des Sel 24 (2011) 373-383) and human IgG1-Fc gene fragment (L.A. Mosquera et al., J Immunol 174 (2005) 4381-4388) were amplified using the primer pairs:

BA494: (SEQ ID NO: 16) 5′-GACTTCAAGCTTAATTAAGCCACCATGGACAGACTTACTTCTTC-3′; BA550R: (SEQ ID NO: 22) 5′-GTGAGTTTTGTCACAAGATTTCGGCTCTCTAATGCATTTGAGACTGG GGGTTG-3′, and BA550F: (SEQ ID NO: 23) 5′ GAGCCGAAATCTTGTGACAAAACTCAC-3′ ; BA393R: (SEQ ID NO: 15) 5′-GTAATATTCTAGACGCGTTCATTATTTACCAGGAGACAGGGAGAGG CTCTTC-3′, respectively. The resulting IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion gene was ligated into a puromycin-resistant expression vector pMSGV-1 (M.S. Hughes et al., Hum Gene Ther 16 (2005) 457-472) to construct the expression vector pMSGV-IL-15RαSu/Fc.

The coding sequence of IL-15N72D (X. Zhu et al., J Immunol 183 (2009) 3598-3607) was cloned into a modified retrovirus expression vector pMSGV-1 (M. S. Hughes et al., Hum Gene Ther 16 (2005) 457-472) that carries the neomycin resistance gene after an IRES region to construct the expression vector pMSGV-IL-15N72D.

Co-Expression of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc Fusion Complex in CHO Cells

To co-express IL-15N72D and IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion proteins (see FIG. 64), pMSGV-IL-15RαSu/Fc and pMSGV-IL-15N72D were co-transfected into CHO cells followed by selection in medium containing 2 mg/mL G418 (Hyclone, Logan, Utah) and 10 μg/mL of puromycin (Hyclone, Logan, Utah). The IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein was also expressed individually in CHO cells for use in loading of recombinant human wild-type IL-15 (IL-15 wt) as a control. For production of the fusion proteins, the recombinant CHO cells were grown in serum free defined medium (SFM4-CHO, Hyclone, Logan, Utah) at 37° C. When the viable cell density of the cultures reached a maximum, the incubation temperature was shifted down to 30° C. for accumulation of the soluble complex. Culture supernatants were then harvested when the viable cell density of the cultures reached approximately 10% viable cells.

Purification Procedure

The recombinant CHO cell culture medium was centrifuged and filtered to remove cells and debris before the supernatant was adjusted to pH 8.0 with 1 M Tris-HCl, pH 8.0. The soluble IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex was purified using a two-step affinity and ion exchange chromatography-based process.

Since the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex contains the IgG1-Fc domain, an rProtein A Sepharose Fast Flow (GE Healthcare) column was used as the first step in the purification process. Prior to sample loading, the column was washed with 5 column volumes (CV) of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, sanitized with 5 CV of 0.1 N NaOH for 1 h, and then equilibrated with 7 CV of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0. The supernatant was loaded onto the 11 mL column at 2 mL/min, and the column was then washed with 8 CV of 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH8.0, followed by 7 CV of washing buffer (0.1 M Na-citrate, pH 5.0) to remove non-specifically bound proteins. The protein was then eluted with 0.2 M Na-citrate, pH 4.0 and the pH of collected peak fractions was immediately adjusted to pH 3.5 using 0.2 M citric acid; the eluted protein was held at this low pH for 30 minutes as a standard viral clearance step. After the low pH hold step, the pH of the eluted preparation was adjusted to pH 7.7 by using 2 M Tris-HCl, pH 8.0. The preparation was concentrated and buffer exchanged into 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 by using an Amicon Ultra-15 centrifugal concentrator (30 kDa cut-off, Millipore, Billerica, Mass.) before sterile filtration using a 0.22 μm filter (Corning Life Sciences, Lowell, Mass.).

The protein preparation was then applied to a Q Sepharose Fast Flow (QSFF; GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences, Piscataway, N.J.) ion exchange column. A 5 mL column was washed with buffer A (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0), sanitized by 5 CV of 0.1 N NaOH for 1 h, and then equilibrated with buffer A. The protein concentration in the preparation was first adjusted to <1 mg/mL with 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 and was then loaded onto the QSFF column at a rate of 1 mL/min. The protein was then eluted from the column using a three-step-gradient process as follows: 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 130 mM NaCl for four CV as the first step, 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 300 mM NaCl for four CV for the second step and 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 1 M NaCl for two CV as the last step. Protein peak fractions were collected, buffer exchanged into PBS (Hyclone, Logan, Utah), and filtered using a 0.22 μm filter. Protein concentration was determined by UV spectrophotometer at 280 nM using an extinction coefficient of 1 A_(280nm)=0.79 mg/mL. This extinction coefficient was calculated based on the deduced amino acid sequence of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex.

Individually expressed IL-15RαSu/Fc was purified using rProtein A affinity chromatography as described above for assembling of complex in solution with IL-15N72D or IL-15 wt produced in E. coli and refolded (Zhu, 2009 #3315). These in vitro assembled complexes were used as standards for biological activity evaluation and estimation of degree of occupancy of the IL-15 binding sites in co-expressed complexes.

Gel Electrophoresis and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) Analysis

Purified proteins were analyzed by different types of gel electrophoresis methods, which included NuPAGE 12% Bis-Tris gel (under reduced and non-reduced conditions), 4-20% Tris-glycine gel (native condition), and IEF pH3-10 gel (for pI determination). All supplies were from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif.). Experimental methods were performed as described by the manufacturer. Superdex 200 HR 10/30 (GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences) chromatography with PBS (Hyclone, Logan, Utah) as the running buffer was used to examine purity and to estimate molecular mass of the proteins.

N-terminal Amino Acid Sequence and Glycosylation Analysis

Protein bands of interest were separated on SDS-PAGE gels, blotted onto PVDF membrane and stained by Ponceau S solution. N-terminal amino acids sequencing was performed using the Edman degradation method (Molecular Structure Facility, UC Davis, Davis, Calif.).

To examine whether the fusion complex was glycosylated, 50 μg of the highly purified protein after the ion exchange chromatography was digested with 2 μL of N-Glycosidase F (Calbiochem, La Jolla, Calif.) in a total volume of 50 μL in PBS at room temperature for 48 h and then was subjected to electrophoresis in NuPAGE 12% Bis-Tris gel under a reduced condition.

Determination of IL-15N72D Occupancy of the Purified IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc Complex

Purified IL-15RαSu/Fc was loaded with IL-15 wt (produced in E. coli and refolded, provided by J. Yovandich, NCI, Fredrick, Md.) at various ratios for 15 h at 4° C. After incubation, the IL-15 wt:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex was purified using rProtein A affinity chromatography as described above. This purified complex was evaluated using two ELISA formats, one (anti-human IgG Fc capture and anti-IL-15 detection) which detects the intact complex and the other (anti-human IgG Fc capture and anti-human IgG Fc detection) which detects only the IL-15αSu/Fc fusion protein. The ratio between the intact IL-15 wt:IL-15αSu/Fc complex and IL-15RαSu/Fc protein levels reflects the occupancy rate of the IL-15 binding sites of the complex. [Occupancy rate (%)=the intact complex (ng/mL)/IL-15RαSu/Fc (ng/mL)×100%]. Fully occupied complex (pre-associated of IL-15RαSu/Fc and IL-15 wt at a 1:3 ratio) was then used as a standard to quantitate the occupancy rate of purified IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complexes after purification.

Determination of IL-15 Biological Activity

An in vitro cell proliferation assay using the IL-15-depended 32Dβ cell line was employed to assess the IL-15 biological activities of the purified complex and IL-15 wt proteins as previously described (X. Zhu et al., J Immunol 183 (2009) 3598-3607).

Pharmacokinetic Evaluation

The pharmacokinetic profile of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex and IL-15 wt were evaluated in female CD-1 mice (4 mice/time point, Harlan, Indianapolis, Ind.) as previously described for IL-2 (H. J. Belmont et al., Clin Immunol 121 (2006) 29-39). Serum levels of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex were assessed with the two ELISA formats described above. IL-15 wt levels were assessed by ELISA using anti-IL-15 capture (MAB647; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.) and anti-IL-15 detection (BAM247; R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc levels from each ELISA format were fit with a one-compartment model using PK Solution 2.0 (Summit Research Services, Montrose, Colo.). Data from mice treated with IL-15 wt were best modeled as a two-compartment model.

Lymphocyte Stimulation

C57BL/6 mice (male, 6 wks of age, Harlan, Indianapolis, Ind.) were injected intravenously with a single dose of IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion complex at 1 mg/kg or human IL-15 wt at 0.28 mg/kg (molar equivalent dose), respectively, or PBS as a negative control. Four days after treatment, pooled blood (5 mice per group) and splenocytes were collected. PBMCs were isolated from the blood using histopaque (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.). The PBMC and splenocytes were then stained with PE-labeled anti-CD19, PE-labeled anti-CD335 (NKp46), FITC-labeled anti-CD4 and FITC-labeled anti-CD8 antibodies (BioLegend, San Diego, Calif.). The stained cells were analyzed on a FACScan flow cytometer (BD Bioscience, San Jose, Calif.). All animal studies were performed following Altor's IACUC approved protocols.

The following peptides were used in the studies presented in the above Examples.

Protein Amino acids Sequence (SEQ ID NO) p53 149-157 STPPPGTRV (SEQ ID NO: 24) p53 264-272 LLGRNSFEV (SEQ ID NO: 25) OVA 257-264 SIINFEKL (SEQ ID NO: 20) VSV 52-59 RGYVYQGL (SEQ ID NO: 26) The following protein domain linker sequences of the fusion proteins used in the Examples presented.

Linker Linker Sequences Fusion Protein Single-chain TCR Vα-DTSGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSSS- c264scTCR/hIL-15, c264scTCR/hIL- TCR linker TCR Vβ (linker sequence disclosed as 15RαSu/birA SEQ ID NO: 27) TCR Vα-TSGGGGSGGGGSPGGGGSGGGGSSS- c149scTCR/hIL15N72D TCR Vβ (linker sequence disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 28) TCR Vα-DTSGGGGSGGGASGGGGSGGGGSSS- OT1scTCR/birA TCR Vβ (linker sequence disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 29) TCR Vα-SGGGGSGGGASGGGGSGGGGS- OT1scTCR/hIL-15D8N, OT1scTCR/hIL- TCR Vβ (linker sequence disclosed as 15RαSu/birA SEQ ID NO: 30) Mutated TCR domain-VNEPKSSDKTHTSPPSPTR-hIL- c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA, human IgG1 15RαSu (linker sequence disclosed as OT1scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA, hinge SEQ ID NO: 31) OT1TCRβ/hIL-15RαSu/birA, 264TCRβ/hIL-15RαSu/birA TCR domain-VNEPKSSDKTHTSPPSPTR-hIL- 264TCRα/hIL-15D8N, OT1TCRα/hIL-15, 15 (linker sequence disclosed as OT1scTCR/hIL-15D8N SEQ ID NO: 31) BirA linker hIL-15RαSu-SGGGSGGGGSID-birA tag c264scTCR/hIL-15RαSu/birA, (linker sequence disclosed as SEQ ID OT1TCRβ/hIL-15RαSu/birA NO: 32) Single-chain CD8α-SGGGGSGGGGSGGGGSGGGGS-CD8β scCD8αβ/hIL-15RαSu/birA CD8 linker (linker sequence disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 33)

The references listed below as well as all of the references, patents, and GenBank numbers (in the version available as of the priority date of the application) cited in the application are each incorporated by reference as if they were incorporated individually.

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What is claimed is:
 1. A nucleic acid sequence encoding an IL-15 receptor fusion polypeptide comprising an IL-15 sushi-binding domain fused to an Fc domain (IL-15RαSu/Fc), and a variant interleukin-15 polypeptide comprising an N72D mutation (IL-15N72D).
 2. A DNA vector comprising the nucleic acid of claim
 1. 3. A method of making an IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex, the method comprising: a) introducing into a host cell a first DNA encoding a variant interleukin-15 (IL-15) polypeptide comprising an N72D mutation (IL-15N72D) and a second DNA encoding an IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein comprising an IL-15 sushi-binding domain fused to an Fc domain (IL-15RαSu/Fc); b) culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the IL-15N72D and the IL-15Rα/Fc fusion protein; and c) purifying the IL-15:IL-15Rα/Fc complex from the host cell or media.
 4. A method of making an IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex, the method comprising: a) co-expressing a variant interleukin-15 (IL-15) polypeptide comprising an N72D mutation (IL-15N72D) and an IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein comprising an IL-15 sushi-binding domain fused to an Fc domain (IL-15RαSu/Fc) in a host cell; b) culturing the host cell in media under conditions sufficient to express the IL-15N72D and the IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein; and c) purifying the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc fusion protein complex from the host cell or media wherein both IL-15 binding sites of the IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex are fully occupied.
 5. A cell comprising a first polynucleotide encoding a variant interleukin-15 (IL-15) comprising an N72D mutation (IL-15N72D) and a second polynucleotide encoding an IL-15 receptor fusion protein comprising an IL-15 sushi-binding domain fused to an Fc domain (IL-15RαSu/Fc).
 6. An isolated fully occupied IL-15N72D:IL-15RαSu/Fc complex comprising: (1) a dimer comprising two interleukin-15 (IL-15) receptor fusion polypeptides, wherein each IL-15 receptor fusion polypeptide comprises an IL-15 sushi-binding domain fused to an Fc domain (IL-15RαSu/Fc), and (2) two variant interleukin-15 polypeptides comprising an N72D mutation (IL-15N72D polypeptides), wherein each interleukin-15 sushi-binding domain is bound to an IL-15N72D polypeptide. 